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iU)NiRii:Siilliiliiiiilii:NiD| 


BV  2835  .R67  1922 

Ross,  William  Alfred,  1873- 

Sunrise  in  Aztec  land 


Sunrise 


172 


Aztec  Land 


Being  an  account  of  the  Mission  Work 

that   has    been  carried  on  in  Mexico 

since  1874  by  the  Presbyterian  Church 

in  the  United  States 


By  Wm.  a.  Ross 


-^^sBirr^^^ 


Priibyterian  Mission 

Monosrnm 


Presbyterian  Committee  of  Publication 

richmond,  va. 

texarkana,  ark. -tex. 

1922 


Copyright,  1922 


BY 


Prksbvticrian    Committee    of    Publication 
rjchmond,  va. 


PKINTEO     1/1      DpIirKU     STATES     OF     AMERICA 


WIl;TTKr    &    SHEPPERSOX,    RICHMOND,    VA. 


DEDICATION 

\\  e  of  the  Second  Generation  of  Missionaries  of  the 

Presbyterian   Church   in   the   United    States,   to 

Mexico,    affectionately    dedicate    this    short 

story  to  those  of  the  First  Generation 

whose  noble  service  deserves 

a  better  tribute. 


PREFACE 

The  sun  shines  hright  at  all  seasons  in  Mexico.  His 
far-flung  rays,  like  eager  messengers,  fly  swiftly  from 
lofty  peak  to  foot-hill  and  coast  plain.  Just  as  these  rays 
enter  unhidden  into  forest,  field,  vineyard  and  orchard, 
so  does  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  shine  in  the  ministry 
of  His  servants  who  have  heard  the  cry  of  need  and,  like 
swift  couriers,  have  home  the  Light  of  Life  into  the 
darkness. 

The  author  gratefully  acknowledges  his  indebtedness  to 
members  of  the  Mission  and  others,  who,  by  giving  infor- 
mation, counsel,  suggestion  and  criticism,  have  helped  in 
the  preparation  of  this  book.  The  attempt  has  been  made 
to  let  our  Home  Church  see  the  work  that  is  being  done  in 
Mexico  through  the  eyes  of  the  entire  Mission.  A  special 
word  of  appreciation  is  gratefully  expressed  to  Rev.  O.  C. 
Williamson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  C.  Morrow,  and  Miss  E.  V. 
Lee  for  their  kind  assistance  in  correcting  the  manuscript, 
and  to  Mr.  C.  B.  Waite,  a  photographer  of  Mexico  City, 
who  has  supplied  some  of  the  illustrations. 


— The  Author. 


San  Angel,  D.  F.,  AIexico 
July,  1922 


INTRODUCTION 


A  Land  of  Contrasts  and  Contradictions 

Mexico  is  a  land  of  startling  contrasts  and  surprises. 
She  does  not  put  her  best  l\)ot  forward.  The  visitor  frcmi 
the  United  States  going  by  rail  is  impressed  Ijy  the  marked 
contrast  between  the  monotonous,  semi-arid  plains  of  the 
Xorth  and  the  majestic  ranges  in  the  background  of  fertile 
])lateaus  which  meet  his  gaze  as  he  passes  southward.  At 
lirst,  he  is  inclined  to  accept  the  description  of  an  Ameri- 
can soldier  boy  who  said, 

"The  rivers  are  rock  beds, 
The  bandits  are  block-heads, 
The  landscape  is  cactus. 
And  with  it  they've  packed  us." 

But  as  he  continues  his  journey,  there  comes  over  him  a 
feeling  that  the  half  has  not  been  told. 

Contrasts  in  Topography 

From  the  tropical  lowlands,  lush  with  orchid  and  palm, 
can  be  seen  the  rocky  pine-clad  mountains  with  their  snow- 
capped peaks.  These  saw-like  ranges  rise  abruptly  from 
the  level  plateaus  bathed  in  perpetual  sunshine.  In  striking 
contrast  are  the  tropical  forests  which  the  sunshine  rarely 
penetrates. 

In  \i\id  t'ontrasl  are  the  extensive  arid  and  semi-arid 
sections  where  the  people  draw  a  scant  li\ing  from  the 
unyielding  soil,  and  still  larger  sections  of  fabulously  rich 
soil  where  fruits,  flowers,  grains  and  vegetables  abound. 
The  snow-crowned  peaks  look  down  from  eternal  winter 
on  eternal  spring  at  their  feet. 


This  Contrast  Extends  to  the  History  of  Mexico 

On  the  one  haml  there  is  romance,  statesinanshi]^).  adven- 
tnrc.  chivah'\-  and  idealism;  on  the  other  hand  we  find 
oppression.  scUishncss.  lack  of  spiritual  ideals,  cruelty, 
sordid  amhition,  impracticahility  and  slavery.  A  peace 
loving  peojile.  they  have  heen  harrassed  In-  constant  hloody 
revolutions.  j\  strong  uneducated  people,  they  are  strug- 
gling for  liherty  with  a  desire  to  realize  the  benefits  of  a 
democracy  whose  catch  words  have  reached  them,  the 
meaning  of  which  they  only  vaguely  understand.  The 
Mexican  government  has  an  excellent  constitution,  but 
their  so-called  patriots  are  chiefly  engaged  in  the  open 
violation  of  it.  Dr.  Johnson's  definition  of  patriotism  as 
"the  last  refuge  of  a  scoundrel"  has  been  for  the  last  few 
years  pre-eminently  applicable  in  Mexico. 

Their  rulers  have  conceived  ideals  of  moral  reform  and 
material  progress  but  have  failed  to  realize  these  ideals  on 
account  of  their  own  narrow  and  selfish  ambitions. 

The  history  of  Mexico  furnishes  not  only  a  story  of 
mystery  and  thrilling  attractiveness,  but  also  a  story  of 
sordidness,  of  oppression,  of  moral  and  spiritual  decay. 

Contrasts  in  the  People 

Since  the  days  of  the  conquerors,  Mexico  has  had  a 
small  class  which  lives  in  wealth  and  luxury,  but  the 
masses  live  in  extreme  and  hopeless  penur}'.  Un  the 
streets  of  the  cities  are  a  few  well-groomed  richly  dressed 
people  and  multitudes  of  beggars.  In  this  land  of  fabulous 
wealth,  millions  do  not  have  enough  to  eat,  and  live  in 
houses  hardly  suitable  for  animals. 

There  are  a  few  people  of  culture  and  refinement, 
trained  in  the  arts,  and  students  of  world  afl'airs,  who  can 


take  their  places  beside  the  cultured  classes  in  America 
and  Europe.  In  marked  contrast  with  these  are  the 
millions  of  ignorant  and  illiterate,  whose  outlook  does  not 
extend  beyond  the  mountains  which  shut  them  in.  There 
is  the  up-to-date  modern  business  man,  and  the  cringing 
peon  whose  bearing  is  that  of  the  underling  and  whose 
speech  is  in  a  minor  key.  Side  by  side  are  seen  scrupulous 
cleanliness  and  the  most  shocking  hygienic  conditions. 

The  University  of  Mexico  was  established  in  1573, 
sixty  years  before  the  founding  of  Harvard,  and  yet  at 
the  present  time  the  percentage  of  illiteracy  varies  from 
sixty  to  eighty.  The  progressive  farmer  uses  a  disc  plow 
drawn  by  a  Fordson,  while  his  neighbor  plows  with  a 
forked  limb  drawn  by  oxen,  and  the  traveler  in  a  Pullman 
car  rushes  by  the  peasant  in  an  ox  cart  of  the  style  of 
ancient  Palestine. 

To  understand  the  Mexican  character  of  today,  we  must 
not  think  of  him  as  the  product  of  a  melting  pot  of  Indians 
and  Spaniards.  Rather,  we  should  think  of  his  being 
made  of  bits  of  Mosaic,  put  together  according  to  the  law 
of  selective  heredity.  So  numerous  are  these  bits  and  so 
varied  in  character  that  the  combinations  are  almost  limit- 
less in  their  variety.  The  traditional  superstitions  of  his 
Indian  blood  combine  with  the  brilliant  logic  of  the 
Spaniard  to  produce  a  character  of  constrasts.  He  is  often 
brave  and  devoted,  sometimes  cowardly  and  treacherous. 
He  may  love  strongly  and  hate  bitterly,  and  he  may  be 
tender  and  gentle  as  a  woman,  yet  at  other  times,  he  may 
be  cruel  and  selfish. 

When  "Intervention"  was  the  word,  and  the  Americans 
were  called  frpm  Mexico,  the  great  exodus  was  made  as 
comfortable  as  circumstances  would  permit  by  the  repeated 
kindness  of  the  Mexican  people.     The  missionaries  left 


their  homes  in  care  of  their  Mexican  servants.  One 
missionary  returned  after  two  years  and  found  that  the 
cook  had  guarded  the  household  goods  so  zealously  that 
she  had  become  crazed.  She  carried  a  silver  spoon  in 
her  bosom  to  keep  it  hidden  from  the  bandits.  She  had 
set  up  a  little  altar  in  the  missionary's  home,  on  which  she 
had  an  image  of  the  Virgin  (gotten  out  as  an  advertise- 
ment of  liver  pills),  an  old  shoe  of  the  missionary  baby, 
and  a  souvenir  postcard  from  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Just  as  behind  the  rough  and  sombre  walls  of  many  of 
their  homes  are  to  be  found  the  well-laid-out  patio  with 
flowers  and  fountains,  so  beneath  the  uncouth  appearance 
of  many  of  the  people  there  are  hearts  with  noble  senti- 
ments and  a  love  of  the  best  and  finest,  which,  when 
brought  into  touch  with  God,  makes  of  them  the  noblest 
of  Christians. 

Strange  and  Shocking  Religious  Inconsistencies 

In  nothing  are  the  contrasts  and  incongruities  more 
noticeable  in  Mexico  than  in  religion.  Religious  fanati- 
cism which  inspires  to  early  prayers,  penances  and  long 
marches  to  sacred  shrines,  is  coupled  in  the  same  person 
with  the  most  sordid  views  of  life  and  the  most  degraded 
moral  standards.  The  existence  of  God  is  taught,  but  He 
is  hidden  behind  images  of  the  saints  which  are  worshipped 
in  His  stead.  The  "Mother  of  God"  holds  the  central 
place  in  the  devotion  of  the  masses  of  the  people.  There 
are  Christian  terms  but  pagan  customs.  The  church 
possesses  fabulous  wealth  as  is  exhibited  by  the  magnifi- 
cent cathedrals,  while  a  large  percent  of  the  people  live 
in  straw-thatched  mud  hovels.  "The  mother  of  the  pitiful 
Christ,  man-made  and  insensible,  wears  bejewelled  gar- 
ments valued  at  millions,  and  the  human  mother  crouching 
in  reverence  before  her,  a  suffering  God-made  soul,  draws 


her  rags  about  her  cold  starved  body  and  whispers  her 
longings  into  deaf  ears." 

These  contrasts  give  us  a  background  and  an  atmosphere 
in  which  to  begin  the  study  of  the  progress  of  the  Gospel 
in  ]\Iexico.  It  is  hoped  that  this  study  will  result  in 
admiration  and  love  for  the  Mexican  people.  The  lights 
are  always  strong;  tlie  shadows  are  always  dark.  That 
is  Mexico  1)evond  a  doubt. 


A  Chri.stian  Home  in  Xochipala 


CONTENTS 

I'reface     7 

Introduction:  Mcxicci.  a  Land  i>i  Contrasts  and  Con- 
tradictions            8 

PART  ONE 

The  Darkness 

Chai)tcr  I. — I'agan   Darkness    15 

Chapter        li. — Papal  Darkness 27 

PART  TWO 

The  Dawn 

Chapter       III. — Morning  Stars 43 

Chapter  1\'. — Working  to  Jlasten  the  Coming  Da}'  75 

Chapter         V. — In   J\evokuion    109 

Chapter  VI. — All  Sections  Jveceiving  the  Light.  .  .  125 

Chapter     Vll. —  Cniting   the   Torches 183 

ChajJter  VI 11. — ( )ther    Agencies     205 

Chapter       IX. —  Xoonilas'  I'lMi.hrrieb -  .  22.-? 


PART  ONE 

THE  DARKNESS 
Chapter  I. 


MEXICO 

"World  wrongly  called  the  New !  This  clime  was  old 
When  first  the  Spaniard  came,  in  search  of  gold. 
Age  after  age  its  shadowy  wings  had  spread, 
And  man  was  born  and  gathered  to  the  dead; 
Cities  arose,  ruled,  dwindled  to  decay, 
Empires  were  formed,  then  darkly  swept  away; 
Race  followed  race,  like  cloud-shades  o'er  the  field, 
The  stranger  still  to  strangers  doomed  to  yield. 
The  last  grand  line  that  swayed  these  hills  and  waves, 
Like  Israel,  wandered  long  mid  wilds  and  caves. 
Then,  settling  in  their  Canaan,  cities  reared. 
Fair  Science  wooed,  a  milder  god  revered, 
Till  to  invading  Europe,  bowed  their  pride. 
And  pomp,  art,  power,  with  Montezuma  died." 

"For,  behold,  darkness  shall  cover  the  earth  and  gross 
darkness  the  people." — Isaiah  60  :  2. 


Chapter   One 

PAGAN   DARKNESS 


I. 

The   Curtain   Lifts 

Ancient  Ciyiijzation.  When  the  curtain  hfted  and 
Europeans  first  saw  IMexico.  they  found  peoples  who  had 
reached  a  state  of  civihzation  and  a  degree  of  culture 
which  has  called  forth  praise  from  all  historians.  The 
center  of  this  civilization  was  the  world  famous  Valley  of 
Mexico,  and  from  this  center  it  reached  out  in  all  direc- 
tions, covering  the  table  lands  and  extending  to  the  present 
l)oundaries  of  the  country  and  beyond  to  the  North,  and 
into  far  Yucatan  on  the  South.  The  Aztecs  were  the 
rulers  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest,  and  we  are  apt  to 
think  of  them  as  the  earliest  people  of  Mexico.  However, 
they  were  comparatively  late  comers,  having  arrived  in  the 
A^alley  of  Mexico  as  late  as  the  fourteenth  century,  only 
about  two  centuries  before  the  coming  of  the  Spaniards. 

Story  of  the  Monuments  and  Ruins.  Monuments 
built  of  huge  blocks  of  stone  covered  with  carvings  and 
figures  similar  to  those  used  by  the  ancient  Egyptians 
are  found  in  many  places.  The  story  is  told  by  pyramids 
and  ruins  of  ancient  cities  with  underground  rooms,  with 
temples  to  their  gods,  and  with  citadels  and  terraced  hills 
scattered  here  and  there.  Age  after  age  the  silent  shadows 
of  these  pyramids  have  crept  out  over  extensive  plains, 
while  generations  of  men  have  come  and  gone. 


Siiiiri.w  ill  /htcc  Linid  \7 

X()(  all  their  story  can  1)C  read,  fnr  tlu-  kcv  to  murli 
(it  tlic  i-ficturc-wn'tinj;  lias  I)ccn  lost.  I'.ut  h\  analogy 
ami  hy  ttarlitions  picked  up  by  early  Spanish  priests,  some 
(it  the  writings  have  been  deciphered.  These  meager 
records  tell  of  the  rise,  progress  and  downfall  of  one  race 
after  another,  each  succeeding  race  inheriting  the  civiliza- 
tion of  the  preceding. 

II. 

The   Roll-Gall   of   the  Ancients 

Thk  Itzaes  of  Yucatan  pass  lirst  before  us.  Their 
capital  city  of  Palenque  is  still  preserved  in  the  most 
elaborate  ruins  found  in  the  New  World.  There  are 
indications  that  when  God  was  calling  Abraham  out  of 
Ur  of  the  Chaldees,  the  Itzaes  were  building  their  nation 
in  far  away  Yucatan,  and  feeHng  after  God  in  worshipping 
the  stars.  While  God  was  establishing  over  his  ancient 
people  a  theocratic  form  of  government,  a  similar  form  of 
government  was  growing  up  in  this  ancient  trilje  beyond 
the  seas. 

The  Mayas.  While  the  early  apostles  were  extending 
the  Gospel  through  Asia  Minor  and  Southern  Europe, 
there  was  growing  up  in  Yucatan  the  hardy  race  of  the 
Mayas.  Ruled  but  never  conquered  by  those  who  fol- 
lowed them,  they  still  exist  in  Yucatan,  observing  their 
ancient  customs  and  speaking  their  ancient  language. 
Young  ^laya  students  have  come  to  the  Presbyterian 
College  in  Coyoacan,  have  taken  the  full  course  and  are 
now  preaching  among  their  own  people. 

The  Toltecs.  While  Europe  was  witnessing  the  mi- 
grations of   the  nations  and   laying  the   foundations    for 


18  Sunrise  in  Actrc  Land 

its  modern  states,  there  was  growing  up  in  the  Western 
World  the  remarkable  race  of  the  Toltccs  who  were 
destined  to  dominate  the  continent  for  six  centuries. 
Their  earliest  legends  indicate  that  they  were  of  Asiatic 
origin.  They  began  their  migration  from  the  North 
just  at  the  same  time  that  the  Teutonic  tribes  of  Northern 
and  Central  Europe  began  theirs,  and  they  pressed  south- 
ward, settling  finally  at  Tula,  only  fifty  miles  from  the 
present  City  of  Mexico.  Here  they  built  a  great  city  and 
extended  their  dominion  over  the  whole  valley. 

Their  civilization  showed  advancement  in  such  arts 
as  weaving,  pottery,  architecture,  and  the  fusing  of  metals. 
Their  calendar  year,  system  of  notation,  and  picture  writ- 
ing are  especially  noteworthy.  They  believed  in  a  Su- 
preme Being  and  stretched  their  brown  hands  up  to  the 
Unknown  God  whom  they  ignorantly  worshiped.  Their 
rule  lasted  till  the  twelfth  century,  when  they  disappeared 
as  silently  as  they  came. 

The  Chichimecas.  Near  the  close  of  the  twelfth  cen- 
tury the  Chichimecas  began  their  rule,  establishing  colonies 
around  the  lakes  in  the  Valley  of  Mexico.  Of  all  their 
tribes,  the  Tezucans  became  the  most  powerful,  exercising 
a  sort  of  feudal  control  over  the  others,  and  establishing 
their  capital,  Texcoco,  on  Lake  Texcoco,  opposite  where 
the  City  of  Mexico  now  stands.  There  in  this  beautiful 
valley,  while  the  greater  portion  of  the  continent  was 
occupied  by  savages,  they  developed  a  civilization  of  a 
comparatively  high  degree.  From  a  history  written  in 
the  early  days  of  the  Spanish  rule  by  a  descendant  of  a 
royal  family,  we  read  of  the  royal  palace  luxuriously 
embellished  with  alabaster  walls  and  tapestries  of  feather 
work,  of  spacious  parks  adorned  with  trees,  of  plants, 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  19 

birds,  fish,  and  animals,  the  study  of  which  was  part  of 
the  royal  pastime. 

The  Aztecs.  We  popularly  call  Mexico  the  land  of 
the  Aztecs.  Their  history,  traditions,  and  religion  have 
been  recounted  in  song  and  story.  No  story  could  be 
more  fascinating  than  that  of  the  Aztecs  as  we  follow 
them  in  well-marked  stages  from  their  settlements  in 
California,  Arizona,  and  New  Mexico  down  into  Chi- 
huahua, where  they  stopped  long  enough  to  build  a  city 
called  "Great  Houses."  These  houses  were  five  and  six 
stories  high,  the  first  skyscrapers  on  the  American  con- 
tinent. 

From  Chihuahua  they  passed  on  to  the  Valley  of 
Mexico  and  established  their  permanent  settlement  on 
the  spot  where  they  found  an  eagle  seated  on  a  cactus, 
holding  a  serpent  in  his  talons,  the  sign  given  them  by 
their  wise  men.  Against  great  odds  they  founded  a  city 
and  built  an  empire.  Their  houses  had  to  be  built  on  piles. 
The  marshes  had  to  be  reclaimed.  The  opposition  of 
hostile  neighbors  had  to  be  faced;  but  conflicts  with  the 
unfavorable  climatic  conditions  of  the  north-  had  made 
them  stronger  than  the  races  that  surrounded  them. 

They  reached  the  Valley  in  1325,  and  by  the  end  of  the 
century  they  had  built  on  the  opposite  shores  of  the  lake 
a  city  which  rivaled  Texcoco  in  size  and  importance. 

Their  influence  grew  to  such  a  degree  that  they  were 
sought  as  allies,  even  by  the  Texoucans,  who  regarded 
them  more  desirable  as  friends  than  as  enemies.  The 
Aztecs  and  the  Texoucans  with  some  smaller  tribes 
formed  an   alliance  which  continued   until   the   Spanish 


20  SiDirisc  ill  ^Izfcc  Land 

Conquest.     In  this  military  alliance,  the  Aztecs  soon  be- 
came the  leading  power. 

From  their  capital  city,  Tenochitlan,  now  ]\Iexico  City, 
their  dominion  rapidly  extended  in  all  directions.  The 
tribes  who  lived  in  the  hot  lands  of  the  Gulf  Coast,  those 
toward  the  South  in  the  rugged  mountain  sections,  those 
lieyond  the  mountains  to  the  West  as  far  as  the  shores  of 
the  Pacific,  and  those  on  the  extensive  plateaus  to  the 
North  felt  the  tread  of  the  marching  armies.  These  con- 
quests were  taking  place  while  Europe  was  being  stirred 
by  the  great  intellectual  and  spiritual  awakenings,  and 
they  reached  their  highest  point  soon  after  Columbus 
astonished  the  Old  \Vorld  by  the  discovery  of  the  New. 

III. 

Mexican  Civilization 

A  Nkw  Name..  From  the  earliest  days  of  the  Aztecs, 
they  were  called  l)y  their  neighl)nrs  "Mexicans,"  from 
their  principal  deity  Mexitli.  This  fact  deserves  atten- 
tion. The  names  America  and  C(ilum])ia  were  brought 
across  the  seas;  but  ]Mexico  is  native  to  tlie  soil  of  the 
New  World.  The  land  of  our  study  is  Mexico,  and  the 
peo])le  are  Mexicans,  not  l^ecause  they  found  the  name 
and  adopted  it.  It  was  to  ^Mexico  that  the  S])aniards 
came.  It  was  ]\Iexican  civilization  which  they  found.  It 
was  the  ^Mexican  i)eo])le  whom  they  con(|uere(l.  ^lexico 
is  now  and  has  been  for  five  centuries,  and  ])lease  God 
mav  alwavs  be,  IMexico.  The\'  love  the  name.  1  bey  are 
])r(jud  to  lie  called  Mexicans.  Their  poetry  and  arl  are 
Mexican.  Tlie  name  lirst  given  to  their  capital  city  was 
extended  to  include  the  valley  in  the  center  of  which  the 


22  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

city  stands,  then  to  the  state  which  almost  surrounds  the 
valley,  and  finally  to  the  whole  country.  We  will  treat  of 
them  no  longer  as  Aztecs,  but  as  Mexicans. 

^Material  Accomplishments.  Even  before  the  Span- 
ish invasion,  agriculture  in  Mexico  approached  the  average 
of  most  of  the  European  countries.  They  tilled  the  soil 
and  understood  irrigation.  Corn,  spices,  cocoa,  cotton, 
and  a  great  variety  of  vegetables  were  raised.  Cotton 
cloth  from  the  coarsest  to  the  finest  was  manufactured. 
Other  plants  were  used  for  making  textiles.  Furs  were 
made  usable  by  tanning  and  treatment.  A  good  grade 
of  paper  similar  to  papyrus  was  made  from  the  Maguey 
plant.  Skill  was  shown  in  wrought  and  carved  gold  and 
silver.  Precious  stones  and  pearls  were  used  for  personal 
adornment,  and  they  excelled  in  feather  work  produced 
from  the  gorgeously  cohired  feathers  of  tropical  birds. 

Intellectual  .\ttainments.  These  people  had  a 
clear  if  intricate  way  of  expressing  their  thoughts  in  writ- 
ing. But  few  of  the  writings  remain,  because  of  the 
wholesale  destruction  by  the  Spaniards  of  everything 
pagan.  The  writings  on  the  temple  walls  were  destroyed 
and  the  world  suffered  an  irreparable  loss.  However, 
after  their  first  fanatical  fury  was  exhausted,  the  Span- 
iards realized  their  mistake,  and  almost  too  late  began  to 
preserve  and  decipher  what  remained. 

Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  attainments  of  these  early 
Mexicans  v/ere  in  astronomy.  They  had  a  wonderful 
knowledge  of  the  movements  of  the  heavenly  bodies.  The 
Aztec  Calendar  Stone,  unearthed  in  the  main  plaza  of 
Mexico  City  in  1790,  gives  a  marvelously  ingenious  com- 


Sunrise  in  Azicc  Land  23 

hination  of  days,  months,  years  and  cycles.  Erected  ver- 
tically, it  acted  as  a  sun  dial.  The  Calendar  would  serve 
t\vent}-three  thousand  years  before  an  error  of  a  day 
would  occur.  In  the  Julian  Calendar,  in  use  at  the  time 
of  the  Spanish  Conquest,  there  was  an  error  of  eight 
days  in  one  thousand  and  forty  years,  and  in  the  Gregorian 
Calendar  now  in  general  use  there  is  an  error  of  a  day  in 
three  thousand  three  hundred  and  twenty-three  years. 

The  Mexican  government  was  not  an  hereditary  mon- 
archy. The  nobility  named  four  electors,  who,  on  the 
death  of  the  monarch,  named  his  successor.  A  few  of 
the  line  of  Montezuma  received  this  honor.  Montezuma 
means  "The  man  of  fury  and  respectability,"  and  both  the 
first  and  the  last  who  bore  that  name  well  deserved  it. 
The  first,  who  was  elected  about  a  century  before  the 
Spaniards  came,  was  a  young  man  of  noble  family  who 
had  distinguished  himself  in  military  operations  and  had 
headed  the  mission  charged  with  the  negotiations  for  an 
alliance  with  the  surrounding  tribes.  Montezuma  II.,  who 
was  reigning  when  the  Spaniards  came,  had  distinguished 
himself  as  a  soldier  and  had  later  taken  priestly  orders. 

The  monarch  was  supreme  in  all  matters  with  one  ex- 
ception; in  the  kingdom  there  was  a  supreme  judge  named 
for  life  and  independent  of  the  king.  There  was  a  system 
of  courts  from  the  villages  and  districts  up  thKough  the 
provinces  to  the  highest  court.  Records  were  kept  with 
care.  The  laws  were  severe.  Note  some  of  them :  Mur- 
derers and  adulterers  were  punished  by  death,  the  latter 
being  stoned ;  thieving  was  punishable  by  death  or  slavery, 
according  to  the  gravity  of  the  ofifense ;  intemperance  was 
punishable  by  death  when  the  offenders  were  young  men, 
and  by  the  loss  of  property  when  they  were  old  men. 


24  Sunrise  in  .htcc  Land 

J\i:i.i(iinis  IjKI.ikI'S.  The\-  held  to  the  worship  of  a 
"god  omnipotent,"  "b\'  wli()ni  we  Hve,"  "under  whose 
wings  we  find  repose  and  sure  defense."  To  meet  the 
manifest  difhcuhy  which  would  come  to  one  god  ruling  a 
world  so  full  of  peoples,  they  developed  the  idea  of  a 
number  of  gods  charged  with  specific  duties.  There  was 
a  god  of  war,  a  god  of  the  air,  a  god  of  the  household,  a 
god  of  the  harvest,  and  so  on,  making  up  a  total  of  thirteen 
major  gods  inferior  to  the  Supreme  Being.  But  life  is 
made  up  of  many  details  so  that  there  were  invented  two 
hundred  minor  gods  to  whom  were  committed  the  cares 
of  everyday  life.  They  believed  in  immortality  and  in 
various  grades  of  enjoyment  in  the  future  life.  Soldiers 
who  died  in  battle  were  most  highly  honored,  their  spirits 
going  immediately  to  the  sun.  and  after  a  period  spent 
in  songs  and  dances  in  the  sun's  travels  through  space, 
they  then  became  song  birds  in  the  eternal  paradise.  Evil 
spirits  went  to  a  place  of  eternal  warkness. 

In  the  early  stages  their  religious  beliefs  were  among 
poetical  lines,  the  gods  being  propitiated  with  fruits  and 
flowers.  Altogether  inconsistent  with  these  gentle  lines. 
there  was  developed  later  the  horrible  custom  of  human 
sacrifices  offered  to  their  favorite  deity,  the  god  of  war. 
As  the  custom  developed,  war  was  waged  on  innocent 
neighbors. solely  to  obtain  victims.  Montezuma  I.  deferred 
his  coronation  to  conduct  a  campaign  against  some  hostile 
neighbors,  and  upon  his  return  with  several  thousand  vic- 
tims, had  them  duly  sacrificed  in  the  midst  of  great  fes- 
tivities. In  the  years  of  heavy  frosts  wdiich  destroyed  the 
crops,  multitudes  of  victims  were  needed  to  appease  the 
gods.  In  the  years  of  plenty,  the  gods  were  pleased  be- 
cause of  the  great  number-  of  sacrifices,  and  still  others 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  25 

must  be  laid  on  the  altar  to  keep  them  pleased.    This  called 
for  more  campaigns. 

The  dedication  of  a  rebuilt  temple  to  the  god  of  war 
offered  perhaps  the  most  gigantic  orgy  of  human  sacri- 
fices that  the  world  has  even  seen.  For  two  years  the 
prisoners  of  many  campaigns  were  saved  for  this  event. 
Before  dawn  on  this  day,  a  vast  multitude,  including  guests 
from  every  part  of  the  country,  was  gathered  in  front 
of  the  temple.  With  the  first  light  the  king  himself  gave 
the  signal  to  begin  the  slaughter  by  tearing  out  the  heart 
from  the  writhing  body  of  the  first  victim  and  offering 
it  with  much  ceremony  to  the  high  priest,  who  in  turn 
placed  it  before  the  image  of  the  war  god.  Then  followed 
a  great  procession  of  victims  who  were  sacrificed  in  fours, 
the  number  of  prisoners  being  so  great  that  for  several 
da}S  the  horrible  ceremony  continued. 

Just  at  this  point  Mexico  came  under  the  power  of  a 
new  civilization,  which,  when  its  death-giving  work  was 
done,  left  the  people  so  crushed  that  they  are  still  suf- 
fering from  the  blow.  The  astounding  rapidity  with 
which  the  blow  fell  forms  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
stories  in  the  historv  of  the  world. 


PART  ONE 

THE  DARKNESS 

{Continued) 
Chapter  II. 


"From  Mexico  ...  a  civilization  which  might  have 
instructed  Europe  was  crushed  out  ...  It  has  been 
her  (Spain's)  evil  destiny  to  ruin  two  civilizations,  Ori- 
ental and  Occidental,  and  to  be  ruined  thereby  herself  .  . 
In  America  she  destroyed  races  more  civilized  than 
herself." 

— Draper,  Int.  Development  of  Europe. 

"Christianity  instead  of  fulfilling  its  mission  of  en- 
lightening, converting  and  sanctifying  the  natives,  was 
itself  converted.  Paganism  was  baptized.  Christianity 
was    paganized." 

— Abbott. 


Chapter   Two 

PAPAL  DARKNESS 


I. 

The  Coming  of  the  Spaniard 

Presoott,  in  his  "Conquest  of  Mexico."  has  told  the 
story  of  how  the  Spanish  civihzation  was  forced  on  ^lex- 
ico.  The  rapid  colonization  was  due  largely  to  avarice. 
Cortez  hluntly  told  the  messengers  from  Montezuma  that 
he  and  his  companions  sufifered  from  a  "disease  of  the 
heart"  which  could  he  cured  only  with  gold.  The  disease 
must  have  heen  of  the  most  malignant  type,  for  he  and  his 
companions  took  heroic  doses  of  the  "gold  cure." 

Due  to  Religious  Zeal.  The  zeal  of  the  conqueror 
was  that  of  the  crusader  engaged  in  a  "holy  war."  He 
might  lead  a  very  immoral  life;  he  might  he  guilty  of 
untold  deeds  of  cruelty,  hut  he  was  a  devout  Catholic. 

Into  Mexico  with  its  multitudes  of  pagan  Indians,  the 
Roman  Catholic  priests  entered  side  l)y  side  with  the 
conquering  soldier.  Valencia  and  his  companions,  known 
as  the  twelve  apostles  of  Mexico,  toiled  hare  foot  all  the 
way  from  Vera  Cruz  to  Mexico  City,  where  they  were 
received  hy  Cortez  and  his  companions  with  great  show 
of  reverence.  The  conquerors  came  out  to  meet  the  mis- 
sionaries, and  on  hended  knees  hade  them  welcome  to 
their  field  of  labor.  Many  others  followed  these  and 
were  scattered  throughout  the  country. 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  29 

The  "Conversion"  of  the  Mexicans.  The  Catholic 
doctrine  of  lia]itisnial  rej^eneration  was  h'lcrally  appHed 
by  priest  and  soldier  of  that  period.  They  seem  to  have 
helieved  that  to  have  the  Infh'ans  submit  to  baptism  was  to 
convert  them.  Guided  by  this  Ijelief  they  began  their  work 
of  "regenerating"  the  Mexicans,  and  "the  world  never 
witnessed  before  any  such  process  as  they  adopted  in 
Christianizing  those  wdiom  their  cruelty  spared.  While 
this  rage  of  conversion  continued  a  single  clergyman  .  .  . 
did  not  desist  until  he  was  so  exhausted  by  fatigue  that 
he  could  not  lift  his  hands.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years 
the  sacrament  of  baptism  was  administered  to  more  than 
four  millions."  Two  of  their  missionaries  Ijoast  that 
"their  ordinary  day's  work  was  from  ten  to  twenty 
thousand  souls." 

An  Easy  Task.  Not  only  did  everything  tend  to  make 
the  Church  the  most  powerful  influence  in  making  the 
country  Spanish,  but  another  and  even  stronger  motive 
animated  the  Mexicans  to  a  prompt  acceptance  of  the  new 
faith.  It  soon  became  well  understood  among  the  Mex- 
icans that  a  hearty  acceptance  of  the  Christian  faith  tended 
to  keep  them  out  of  trouble.  Don  Vicente  Rivas  Palacios, 
a  ]\Iexican  historian,  says :  "The  conquered  Mexicans  who 
feared  everything,  and  rightly,  from  the  hardness  of  the 
conquerors,  came  to  the  conclusion  that  conversion  and 
baptism  were  the  most  powerful  shields  with  which  to 
protect  themselves  from  further  cruelties.  They,  there- 
fore, entered  the  towns  en  masse  and  asked  the  missionary 
to  baptize  them."  Prescott  says :  "The  Castillian  too 
proud  for  hypocrisy,  committed  more  cruelties  in  the  name 
of  religion  than  were  ever  practised  by  pagan  idolater  or 
fanatical    Moslem."     But   rough   measures   were   usually 


30  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

unnecessary,  for  the  Mexican  saw  nothing  objectionable 
in  the  ceremony  of  baptism  where  nothing  else  was  re- 
(luired  of  him.    The  sprinkling  was  soon  over. 

Mexico  Secures  a  Patron  Saint.  There  was  needed 
a  Patron  Saint,  who  was  not  long  in  being  secured.  We 
cannot  understand  the  religious  history  of  Mexico  without 
taking  into,  account  the  appearance  of  the  Virgin  of 
Guadalupe,  the  "Patron  Saint  and  Protectress  of  Mexico." 
Madame  Calderon  de  la  Barca,  the  accomplished  wife  of 
the  first  Spanish  Ambassador  to  Mexico  tells  the  story. 
She  was  a  devout  Catholic  and  for  this  reason,  as  well  as 
from  the  fact  that  she  got  the  story  direct  from  the  Bishop 
in  charge  of  the  Cathedral  of  Guadalupe,  her  version  is 
of  special  value:  "In  1521,  ten  years  and  four  months 
after  the  conquest  of  Mexico,  a  fortunate  Indian,  Juan 
Diego,  was  passing  by  the  mountain  of  Tepeyac,  a  short 
distance  north  of  Mexico  City.  The  holy  Virgin  suddenly 
appeared  before  him  and  ordered  him  to  go  in  her  name 
to  the  Bishop,  the  Illustrisimo  D.  Fr.  Juan  de  Zumarraga, 
and  to  make  known  to  him  that  she  desired  to  have  a 
place  of  worship  erected  in  her  honor  on  that  spot.  The 
next  day  the  Indian  passed  by  the  same  place,  when  again 
the  holy  Virgin  appeared  before  him  and  demanded  the 
result  of  his  commission.  Juan  Diego  replied  that  in 
spite  of  his  endeavor  he  had  not  been  able  to  obtain  an 
audience  with  the  Bishop.  'Return,'  said  the  Virgin,  'and 
say  that  it  is  I,  the  Virgin  Mary,  Mother  of  God,  who 
sends  thee.'  Juan  Diego  obeyed  the  divine  orders,  yet 
still  the  Bishop  would  not  give  him  credence,  merely 
desiring  him  to  bring  some  sign  or  token  of  the  Virgin's 
will.  He  returned  with  this  message  on  the  12th  of 
December,  when  for  the  third  time  he  beheld  the  appari- 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  31 

tion  of  the  Virgin.  She  now  commanded  him  to  climb  to 
the  top  of  the  barren  rock  of  Tepeyac,  to  gather  roses 
which  he  should  find  there,  and  bring  them  to  her.  The 
humble  messenger  obeyed,  though  well  knowing  that  on 
the  spot  were  neither  flowers  nor  any  trace  of  vegetation. 
Nevertheless,  he  found  the  roses,  which  he  gathered  and 
l)rought  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  who  throwing  them  into  his 
tibna  (blanket)  said,  'Return,  show  these  to  the  Bishop, 
and  tell  him  that  these  are  the  credentials  of  thy  mission.' 
Juan  Diego  set  out  for  the  episcopal  residence,  and  when 
he  found  himself  in  the  presence  of  the  prelate  he  unfolded 
his  tilma  to  show  him  the  roses,  when  there  appeared 
imprinted  on  it  the  miraculous  image  which  has  existed 
for  more  than  three  centuries. 

"As  the  old  bishop  closed  his  narration,  he  exclaimed  in 
ecstacy :  'What  must  be  my  happiness  who  can  see  her 
most  gracious  majesty  every  hour  and  every  minute  of 
the  day.'  " 

This  story  is  accepted  by  faithful  Catholics  everywhere. 
The  pope  endorses  the  legend.  When  Bishop  Camacho 
of  Victoria  dared  to  deny  the  apparition  of  the  Virgin 
of  Guadalupe,  he  was  excommunicated.  There  is  no  per- 
sonal adornment  among  the  Mexicans  that  is  so  popular 
as  the  medals  of  Guadalupe  which  are  blessed  and  sold 
to  them  on  their  great  feast  days.  From  the  days  of  Juan 
Diego,  the  little  village  of  Guadalupe  has  been  the  re- 
ligious center  of  Mexico  and  the  annual  pilgrimages 
thither  on  the  12th  of  December  have  been  the  must 
popular  of  all  religious  celebrations. 

The  New  Faith  like  the  Old.  The  new  faith  bore 
many  resemblances  to  the  old.  We  are  not  surprised  at 
the  statement  of  Humboldt  when  he  says :   "The  introduc- 


32  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

tion  of  the  Romish  rehgion  had  no  other  effect  upon  the 
[Mexicans  than  to  substitute  new  ceremonies  and  symbols 
for  the  rites  of  a  sanguinary  worship.  Dogma  has  not 
succeeded  dogmas,  but  only  ceremony  to  ceremony."  We 
are  not  surprised  when  Abliot  says :  "Cln-istianity  instead 
of  fulfilhng  its  mission  of  enhghtcning,  converting  and 
sanctifying  the  natives  was  itself  converted.  Paganism 
lias  baptized,  Christianity  teas  paganized."  The  resultant 
religion  was  a  mixture  of  Aztec  worship  and  Roman 
Catholicism.  The  A'irgin  was  promptly  identified  with 
Mother  Earth  who  had  long  been  a  favorite  deity  among 
the  agricultural  peoples.  The  periodic  fiestas  of  the 
church  were  celebrated  with  garlands  and  processions  and 
dances  just  as  the  Mexicans  had  been  accustomed  to 
oliserve  the  festivals  of  their  own  religion.  The  Indian 
pilgrims  dance  their  quaint  rounds  and  chant  their  native 
songs  in  the  Village  of  Guadalupe,  in  INIorelia,  in  Cuer- 
navaca  aijd  in  multitudes  of  other  towns  at  their  annual 
fiestas,  just  as  they  did  in  the  days  before  the  priests 
came  from  Spain.  There  are  still  shrines  as  the  goal  of 
their  pilgrimages,  and  a  multiplicity  of  images  with  only 
a  change  of  name  and  visage.  The  burning  of  candles 
and  the  use  of  holy  water  were  well  known  features  of 
their  former  worship;  they  even  had  a  form  of  confes- 
sional, did  penance  by  self-torture,  and  ate  maize  cakes 
similar  to  the  holy  wafer.  If  the  Spaniard  openly  and 
blatantly  forced  his  faith  on  Mexico,  the  Mexicans  silently 
and  unconsciouslv  injected  an  r(Hiril  .'iniotml  ot  his  pas^an- 
ism  into  his  new  religion. 

A  Period  of  Church  Building.  The  Mexican 
temples  were  swept  away  in  the  attempt  of  the  early 
missionaries  to  destroy  everything  pagan.     But  the  whole 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  33 

country  was  soon  dotted  with  cathedrals,  chapels,  convents 
and  monasteries,  which  still  form  a  characteristic  feature 
of  the  landscape.  Their  number  was  legion  and  their 
magnificence  was  marvelous.  Their  walls  were  adorned 
with  costly  paintings,  their  altars  were  burdened  with 
gold,  silver  and  jewels,  and  their  niches  were  filled  with 
images  of  the  Christ,  the  Virgin  and  the  saints.  Single 
chapels  cost  thousands  of  dollars,  while  the  cathedrals 
represented  millions.  They  were  built  largely  by  enforced 
Indian  labor,  thus  forming  a  part  of  that  system  which 
left  the  masses  ignorant,  homeless  and  poverty  stricken. 
It  is  hard  to  believe  that  God  can  take  pleasure  in  houses 
erected  at  such  a  cost. 


II. 

A  Crushing  Blow 

During  the  two  hundred  and  eighty-six  years  from 
1535  when  the  first  viceroy  was  sent  from  Spain,  to  1821 
when  Mexico  gained  her  independence,  the  country  was 
ruled  by  sixty-four  representatives  of  the  Spanish  crown. 
Among  these  there  was  occasionally  found  one  of  benev- 
olent disposition  and  liberal  ideas,  but  in  the  main  the 
Spanish  rule  in  Mexico  was  one  of  iron  despotism.  A 
steady  stream  of  wealth  from  mine  and  farm  was  poured 
into  the  lap  of  the  mother  country.  The  power,  both 
political  and  religious,  was  in  the  hands  of  a  few,  these 
few  retaining  whatever  wealth  did  not  go  abroad.  All 
matters  of  education  were  in  the  hands  of  a  church  zuJiose 
policy  is  tJiat  submission  is  best  maintained  through 
ignorance.  Deep  lines  were  scored  in  the  national 
character.     We  are  not  surprised  that  at  the  end  of  this 


34  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

period  90  per  cent  of  the  people  were  illiterate,  and  that 
a  profound  fatalism  was  developed  in  the  great  mass 
of  the  people. 

A  New  Race  in  the  Making.  During  those  long 
years  the  people  were  being  developed  that  make  up  the 
inhabitants  of  modern  Mexico.  First,  there  were  the 
native  Indians.  Our  study  shows  that  before  the  Con- 
quest they  were  a  people  of  great  capability,  and  there 
never  has  been  a  period  in  Mexico's  history  without  its 
distinguished  men  of  pure  Indian  stock.  Second,  there 
was  the  Mixed  race.  Very  few  women  came  with  the 
Spaniards  during  the  early  days  of  the  Conquest,  and 
intermarriage  was  inevitable.  The  race  thus  formed  in- 
herited the  weaknesses  and  vices  of  both  the  Spaniards 
and  the  Indians.  The  Spaniards  closed  the  door  of  oppor- 
tunity against  this  mixed  race.  They  were  treated  little 
better  than  the  Indians.  Their  taste  for  gambling  and 
dissipating  amusements  was  given  a  free  hand,  and  it  is 
not  surprising  that  they  have  often  been  turljulent  and 
unruly.  These  along  with  the  Mexicans  of  pure  Indian 
stock  form  the  great  masses  of  Mexico  today.  Third, 
there  was  the  Spaniard.  The  distinctions  are  not  closely 
drawn  now,  but  at  that  time  this  class  was  quite  distinct. 
He  came  to  Mexico  imbued  with  the  Spanish  ideas  of  the 
right  to  live  from  the  labor  of  subjugated  peoples.  How- 
ever kindly  he  might  feel  toward  the. Mexicans,  and  how- 
ever humane  might  be  his  treatment  of  them,  they  were 
regarded  as  an  inferior  race  and  had  no  share  in  the 
government.  To  this  class  belonged  the  viceroys.  It  was 
this  class  who,  by  political  and  ecclesiastical  oppression, 
brought  to  an  end  the  development  of  the  Mexican  people. 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  35 

Some  of  the  missionaries  from  Spain  were  men  of 
devout  spirit  and  of  philanthropic  motives  who  defended 
the  Indians  against  their  oppressors.  One  of  the  noisiest 
of  these  was  Las  Casas,  a  dominican  who  became  bishop 
of  Chiapas.  He  protested  earnestly  against  the  bar- 
barities committed  by  his  countrymen  upon  the  subject 
race.  Twice  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  lay  the  sorrowful 
story  of  their  wrongs  before  Ferdinand  and  Isabel. 
Largely  through  his  influence  Pope  Paul  III.  denounced 
the  exploitation  of  the  Indians.  It  is  no  wonder  that  a 
grateful  Mexican  artist,  Felic  Parra,  has  immortalized  the 
good  jjishop's  humanity  in  that  famous  picture  which 
occupies  the  place  of  honor  in  the  Academy  of  Fine  Arts 
in  the  City  of  Mexico.  This  picture  is  called  "Las  Casas 
Protecting  the  Indians,"  and  represents  that  venerable 
man  standing,  while  at  his  feet  lies  the  bleeding  body  of 
an  Aztec  whose  anxious  wife  clings  to  the  priest's  robe 
as  he  raises  the  cross  and  lifts  his  face  in  mute  appeal  to 
Heaven  for  help  for  the  oppressed. 

A  Pathetic  Picture.  One  of  the  most  cruel  forms 
of  suljjugation  was  that  of  peonage.  Not  only  the  com- 
mon people  but  also  many  of  the  nobles  sufifered  under 
this  system.  A  Jesuit  historian  states  that  Cortez  and 
his  men  shed  more  blood  of  the  flower  of  the  Aztec  race 
to  gratify  their  ambitions  than  had  ever  been  poured  out 
to  heathen  gods.  And  a  Spanish  writer  pictures  their 
cruelties  as  "such  atrocities  as  never  before  deluged  a 
conquered  land  with  native  gore." 

After  a  few  years  of  Spanish  rule,  the  Mexican  Indian 
presented  one  of  the  most  pathetic  pictures  to  be  found  in 
the  world.  Social  lines  were  drawn  and  hardened  into 
traditions.     While  the  power  of  the  oppressors  was  so 


36 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Laud 


absolute  that  submissiveness  I)ecame  a  hal)it  of  the  mind, 
there  was  a  sense  of  injustice  and  a  consequent  hatred  of 
the  oppressor  which  i)repared  the  way  for  the  spirit  of 
rebelHon. 


III. 

Struggles  for  Independence 

The  Spirit  of  Freedom  Reaches  Mexico.  The  hour 
had  struck  when  the  American  colonies  were  to  free  them- 
selves from  European  yoke.  Those  of  North  America 
led  the  way  and  this,  with  the  great  upheaval  of  the  French 
Revolution,  gave  inspiration  to  Mexico  and  infused  into 
this  submissive  people  a  spirit  of  unrest. 

A  Group  of  Immortals.  In  the  movement  for  in- 
dependence the  leaders  were  in  almost  every  case  men 
of  humble  birth  who  had  suffered  with  their  people. 


Mi.. 

-^•■■^^1-LSV.^      

Organ  Cactus 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  37 

Hidalgo.  At  the  head  of  this  line  of  patriots  stands 
Hidalgo,  the  "Washington  of  Mexico."  Hidalgo  was  a 
village  priest,  much  loved  by  his  people  for  whose  temporal 
and  spiritual  welfare  he  labored.  Among  other  things  he 
taught  his  people  the  culture  of  the  vine  and  silk-worm  and 
the  making  of  porcelain.  He  believed  that  the  time  had 
come  to  strike  the  blow  for  independence.  He  prepared 
and  published  the  declaration  and  on  the  night  of  Septem- 
ber 15,  1810,  he  raised  the  cry  for  independence  and 
thousands  flocked  to  his  standards.  For  this  heroic  act 
he  was  degraded  from  the  priesthood  and  excommunicated. 
Early  in  the  war  he  was  captured,  shot  and  beheaded.  His 
head  was  placed  on  a  prominent  point  in  a  large  building 
in  Guanajuato  and  remained  there  for  ten  years  as  a  silent 
warning  to  all  those  who  would  be  lovers  of  liberty. 

JosEFA  Ortiz.  It  is  interesting  to  note  the  part  that  a 
woman  took  in  the  struggles  for  independence.  La  Senora 
Josefa  Ortiz  de  Domingues,  under  the  guise  of  a  literary 
society,  held  meetings  in  her  home  which  were  attended  by 
the  patriots  who  were  making  their  plans  for  independence. 
But  through  the  key  hole  in  the  door  spies  looked  and 
listened.  When  she  knew  that  she  had  been  discovered, 
she  sent  word  to  Hidalgo,  and  before  another  night  had 
passed  he  had  made  his  proclamation.  The  name  and 
picture  of  "Dona  Josefa"  always  appears  along  with  others 
of  those  eventful  days. 

MoRELOS.  On  the  death  of  Hidalgo,  the  leadership 
devolved  on  Jose  Maria  Morelos.  He  is  of  special  interest 
to  Southern  Presbyterians  because  of  his  historical  con- 
nection with  our  new  territory.  He  was  a  mule  driver 
until  thirty  years  of  age.    He  studied  for  the  Priesthood, 


38  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

but  joined  the  forces  who  were  fighting  for  hberty  and 
proved  himself  a  born  warrior,  winning  in  his  brief  career 
the  popular  title  of  "the  hero  of  a  hundred  battles."  It 
was  he  who  summoned  the  first  Mexican  Congress  in 
Chilpancingo,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Guerrero,  one 
of  the  states  assigned  to  us  in  our  new  field.  This  brave 
and  honest  patriot  was  also  covered  with  ignominy  by  his 
church  which  called  him  "An  unconfessed  Heretic,  a 
traitor  to  God  and  the  King."  He  was  shot  December 
1815,  and  to  make  his  death  more  disgraceful,  he  was  shot 
in  the  back.  A  grateful  people  revere  his  memory.  One 
of  the  states  for  which  the  Southern  Presbyterians  are 
partly  responsible,  bears  his  name. 

Guerrero.  Another  one  of  these  immortals  in  whom 
Southern  Presbyterians  are  especially  interested  is  Vicente 
Guerrero.  He  too  was  of  humble  origin,  but  he  won  great 
distinction  as  a  general.  Against  great  odds  he  persisted 
at  the  head  of  his  poorly  equipped  forces  and  survived  to 
see  the  truimph  of  his  cause.  He  became  the  third  presi- 
dent of  the  Republic  and  under  his  rule  slavery  was 
abolished.  His  political  enemies  secured  his  condemnation 
and  he  was  shot  in  1831.  The  great  state  of  Guerrero,  to 
whose  inhabitants  Southern  Presbyterians  are  having  the 
privilege  of  taking  the  Gospel,  perpetuates  his  name. 

Independent  of  Spain  but  under  Selfish  Rulers. 
Powerful  opposition  in  Mexico  delayed  her  independence 
for  eleven  years.  And  in  setting  up  a  government  of  her 
own,  she  discovered  that  she  had  thrown  off  foreign  con- 
trol but  had  not  rid  herself  of  the  privileged  class  at  home, 
"the  proprietors  of  the  great  estates,  the  greedy  office- 
holders, the  clergy.     These  men,  while  unfortunately  a 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  39 

part  of  the  Mexican  people,  belonged  to  that  powerful 
party  which  in  the  popular  movement  for  independence 
joined  forces  with  the  Spanish  Government  to  suppress 
the  rising  tide  of  liberty.  This  class  in  the  hour  of  victory 
was  eager  to  grasp  the  reins  of  government  and  erect 
a  home  despotism  in  place  of  a  foreign  one."  The  longed- 
for  blessings  of  freedom  did  not  follow.  All  abuses 
arising  from  the  pernicious  church  system  remained. 
Ne\y  evils  threatened  in  the  form  of  unstable  government. 
The  people  were  called  upon  to  suffer  for  three  more 
generations.  Never  in  the  history  of  a  nation  has  a  credu- 
lous people  suffered  so  much  from  selfish  leaders.  Twice 
since  overthrowing  the  Spanish  foreign  yoke,  they  have 
been  forced  to  remove  a  similar  bondage  set  up  on  their 
own  soil.  Constitution  and  law  have  been  set  aside  by 
military  leaders,  and  even  presidents  chosen  by  the  people 
have  transformed  themselves  into  dictators.  Maximilian's 
empire  was  sustained  by  troops  sent  from  abroad.  Four 
separate  constitutions  have  been  promulgated.  The  edu- 
cation of  the  people  in  the  principles  of  constitutional 
government  has  been  dragging  along  through  a  century, 
and  hardly  the  first  principles  have  been  learned.  Yet 
in  all  this  long  and  weary  struggle  the  heart  of  the  people 
has  beaten  true.  Nothing  in  their  history  has  been  finer 
than  their  steadfastness  and  loyalty  to  their  ideal  of  "a 
government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  for  the  people." 

IV. 

A  Neighbor  in  Need 

Social  and  Political  Needs.  A  Mexican  gentleman, 
as  he  beheld  the  conditions  of  the  people  after  over  three 
centuries  of  Spanish  domination,  said :    "My  countrymen 


40  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

are  today  in  a  far  worse  condition  than  they  were  when 
Cortez  burned  his  ships  behind  him  in  the  harbor  of 
Vera  Cruz  and  marched  to  the  conquest  of  Montezuma's 
empire;  they  are  worse  fed,  worse  clad,  worse  housed. 
and  more  ignorant  than  they  were  that  day."  The  people 
of  the  United  States  during  the  early  days  of  their  history 
were  engaged  in  their  own  struggles  and  did  little  to  help 
their  neighbor.  Rumors  came  of  cruel  conditions,  of  the 
rise  of  the  liberal  movement,  of  the  struggles  of  the  people 
against  great  odds,  of  the  fierce  stand  of  the  church 
against  the  liberal  leaders,  and  of  their  being  excom- 
municated and  executed.  But  the  masses  of  the  people 
in  the  United  States  were  unmoved.  Yet  there  was  at 
least  one  man  of  vision  in  whose  bosom  throbbed  a 
neighbor's  heart.  Daniel  Webster  said  to  a  company  of 
his  friends  who  were  expressing  fears  of  national  diffi- 
culties arising  out  of  northern  boundaries:  "No,  gentle- 
men, our  great  national  difficulty  lies  not  in  that  direction. 
Our  greatest  danger  is  that  we  have  a  sister  republic  on 
our  southern  border,  almost  in  mortal  agony,  and  no  one 
amongst  us  seems  willing  to  lend  a  helping  hand." 

Statements  of  Catholics  Regarding  Religious 
Conditions.  The  Roman  Catholic  Church  was  dominant 
in  Mexico  for  centuries.  No  other  church  was  allowed  in 
the  country.  She  had  unlimited  control  and  had  every 
opportunity  to  reveal  whether  or  not  she  was  an  evangeliz- 
ing and  enlightening  agency.  A  clear  understanding  of 
this  point  will  not  only  help  us  to  justify  missions  to 
Mexico  by  Protestant  Churches,  but  also  helps  us  to  see 
more  clearly  our  present  obligation  to  our  neighbor.  The 
testimony  of  the  Catholics  themselves  on  this  point  is  of 
supreme  value.     Abbe  Emanuel  Domenech,  a  prominent 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  41 

clergyman  of  the  Romish  Church  of  France,  after  visiting 
Mexico,  said :  "The  Mexican  faith  is  a  dead  faith.  The 
abuse  of  external  ceremonies,  the  facility  of  reconciling 
the  devil  with  God,  and  the  absence  of  internal  exercises 
of  piety  have  killed  the  faith  in  Mexico.  It  is  in  vain  to 
seek  good  fruit  from  the  worthless  tree,  which  makes 
Mexican  religion  a  singular  assemblage,  of  heartless 
devotion,    shameful    ignorance,    insane    superstition    and 

hideous  vice It  would  require  volumes  to  relate 

the  Indian  superstitions  of  an  idolatrous  character  which 
exist  to  this  day.  For  want  of  serious  instructions  you 
find  in  the  Catholicism  of  the  Indian  numerous  remains 
of  the  old  Aztec  paganism.  The  Mexican  is  not  a 
Catholic ;  he  is  simply  a  Christian,  because  he  has  been 
baptized.  I  speak  of  the  masses,  and  not  of  the  numerous 
exceptions  to  be  met  with  in  all  clases  of  society.  Mexico 
is  not  a  Catholic  County  because  a  majority  of  the  natives 
are  semi-idolaters  and  because  the  majority  of  the  Mexi- 
cans carry  ignorance  of  religion  to  such  a  point  that  they 
have  no  other  worship  than  that  of  form.  They  do  not 
know  what  it  is  to  worship  God  'in  Spirit  and  in  truth' 
according  to  the  Gospel.  ...  If  the  pope  should  ex- 
communicate all  the  priests  having  concubines,  the  Mexi- 
can clergy  would  be  reduced  to  a  very  small  number. 
Nevertheless,  there  are  some  worthy  men  among  them 
whose  conduct  as  priests  is  irreproachable.  .  .  .  The 
Clergy  carry  their  love  of  the  family  to  that  of  paternity. 
In  my  travels  in  the  interior  of  Mexico  many  pastors  have 
refused  me  hospitality  in  order  to  prevent  my  seeing  their 
nieces  and  cousins  and  their  children.    .    .    . 

"One  of  the  greatest  evils  in  Mexico  is  the  exorbitant 
fee  for  the  marriage  ceremony.     The  priests  compel  the 


42  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

poor  to  live  without  marriage,  by  demanding  for  the 
nuptual  Ijenediction  a  sum  that  a  Mexican  mechanic,  with 
his  slender  wages,  can  scarcely  accumulate  in  fifty  years 
of  the  strictest  economy.  This  is  no  exaggeration.  One 
of  the  first  duties  of  the  Mexican  episcopate  should  be  to 
reduce  the  fee  for  baptisms,  marriages,  dispensations  and 
everything  else  indispensable  to  the  performance  of  re- 
ligious duties.  ,  .  .  The  observations  I  have  made  of 
the  religious  sentiments  of  the  Mexicans  are  not  confined 
to  the  ignorant  classes.  They  apply  equally  to  those  who 
are  well-to-do." 

It  was  these  conditions,  portrayed  by  Catholics  them- 
selves, that  made  Protestants  in  the  United  States,  half  a 
century  ago,  feel  their  obligation  to  send  missionaries. 
And  it  is  because  these  conditions  have  not  yet  been 
eliminated  that  there  still  rests  on  Protestants  in  the 
United  States  the  solemn  obligation  to  continue  their 
work  until  the  Kingdom  is  established  in  Mexico. 


PART  TWO 

THE  DAWN 

Chapter  III. 

"And  we  have  the  word  of  prophecy  made  more  sure; 
whereunto  ye  do  well  that  ye  take  heed,  as  unto  a  lamp 
shining  in  a  dark  place,  until  the  day  dawn,  and  the 
day-star  arise  in  your  hearts." — II  Peter  1: 19. 

"Upon  the  development  of  Protestantism  largely  de- 
pends  the  happiness   of   our  country." 

— Juarez. 


Chapter  Three 

MORNING  STARS 


I. 

The  Fight  for  Religious  Liberty.  The  Constitu- 
tion adopted  by  the  Mexican  Repubhc  in  1823  provided 
that  the  Roman  CathoHc  faith  should  be  the  reHgion  of 
the  State  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others.  But  men  of  vision 
soon  realized  the  need  of  religious  liberty  and  a  new 
religious  element.  The  popular  movement  in  favor  of 
reform  was  fought  obstinately  through  long  years,  and 
every  inch  of  the  ground  was  taken  only  after  a  struggle 
against  great  odds.  The  pope  denounced  reform  laws  as 
"Odious  and  abominable,"  "Null  and  void." 

The  reform  leaders  were  not  opposed  to  the  Catholic 
Church  as  such.  They  desired  to  strip  the  church  of  all 
political  power,  but  to  leave  it  entirely  free  in  its  proper 
sphere,  extending  equal  freedom  to  all  faiths. 

An  Incorruptible  Patriot.  The  name  of  Benito 
Juarez  stands  out  above  all  others  in  Mexico  as  a  leader 
of  liberty.  He  drew  up  the  famous  Constitution  of  1857. 
He  won  his  way  to  the  Presidency.  He  led  his  people 
against  the  Austrian  Archduke  Maximilian,  who  had  been 
sent  to  Mexico  by  the  Pope  and  Louis  Napoleon  HI.,  of 
France. 

Unprejudiced  Mexicans  claim  that  Jaurez's  name  shall 
be  honored  not  only  as  a  great  leader,  but  also  as  a  devout 
worshipper  of  the  true  God.  His  piety  is  shown  in  the 
reverential  manner  in  which  he  proclaims  his  victories. 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  45 

At  the  close  of  the  struggle  he  said :  "Let  the  Mexican 
people  fall  on  their  knees  before  God,  who  has  deigned 
to  crown  our  arms  with  victory.  He  hath  smitten  the 
foreigner  who  oppressed  us  sorely.  He  hath  established 
his  people  in  their  rightful  place.  For  He  who  hath  his 
habitation  in  the  Heavens  is  the  Visitor  and  Protector  of 
our  country,  who  strikes  down  those  who  come  with  the 
intent  to  do  ill.  The  Excellent,  the  only  just  Almighty, 
and  the  Eternal  One  is  He  who  hath  dispersed  the  nations 
who  like  vultures  had  fallen  on  Mexico." 

He  deserves  a  place  in  the  history  of  Evangelical  Mis- 
sions. Shortly  before  his  death  he  said  to  an  intimate 
friend,  "Upon  the  development  of  Protestantism  largely 
depends  the  happiness  of  our  country." 

A  singular  phenomenon  of  this  period  was  the  forma- 
tion of  groups  of  men  for  the  study  of  religion.  These 
sprang  up  all  over  the  country,  and  later  several  of  them 
were  merged  into  Christian  congregations.  One  such 
group  in  Mexico  City  had  as  its  leader  a  soldier  named 
Sostenes  Juarez,  a  relative  of  the  great  President.  He  had 
come  into  possession  of  a  French  Bible,  brought  over  by 
one  of  the  Chaplains  of  the  Army  of  Intervention.  So 
powerfully  did  the  Divine  Word  do  its  work  that  through 
the  influence  of  that  one  Bible,  in  a  language  which  only 
a  few  of  them  understood,  many  became  confessed  Chris- 
tians. Mr.  Juarez  later  became  a  minister  and  after  more 
than  twenty  years  of  efficient  service  died  as  a  Soldier  of 
the  Cross. 

Another  one  of  these  groups  was  that  of  which  Father 
Palacios.  Dr.  Manuel  Aguas  and  Arcadio  Morales  were 
leaders.  They  formed  "La  Iglesia  Nacional"  (The 
National  Church).     The  first  leader  was  Dr.  Aguas  but 


46  Su>irisc  in  Aztec  Land 

on  account  of  his  episcopal  tendencies  a  separation  came 
and  Father  Palacios  hecame  the  leader.  President  Juares 
himself  was  greatly  influenced  by  this  sincere  man  who 
had  left  the  Romish  Church  and  had  estal:)lished  services 
where  the  Bible  was  read.  Later  another  separation  took 
place  and  Father  Palacios  became  leader  of  one  group  and 
Dr.  Morales  the  leader  of  the  other.  Thus  a  nucleus  for 
two  churches  was  formed.  The  group  led  by  Father 
Palacios  came  under  the  direction  of  the  Mission  of  the 
M.  E.  Church  when  they  entered  the  country.  Father 
Palacious  became  a  minister  of  that  Church.  The  group 
led  by  Dr.  Morales  came  under  the  direction  of  the 
Mission  of  the  Northern  Presbyterian  Church  and  was 
organized  into  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Mexico 
City.  Dr.  Morales  continued  as  the  pastor  of  the  Church 
until  his  death  in  June,  1922.  He  preached  for  nearly 
fifty-three  years  and  during  those  years  of  remarkable 
service  to  Mexico  he  was  easily  the  most  prominent 
minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  if  not  of  all  Protes- 
tantism in  Mexico.  We  must  keep  in  mind  that  these 
movements  were  not  begun  under  the  leadership  of  foreign 
missionaries.  God  was  Himself  leading  the  people  by  His 
Holy  Spirit,  using  the  Word  as  it  was  read  from  the  few 
Bibles  that  could  be  secured  in  spite  of  the  efforts  of  the 
Church  to  keep  them  from  entering  the  country. 


II. 

The  First  Missionary  to  Mexico 

The  World  Missionary  Movement  began  about  the  end 
of  the  18th  century.  Morrison  opened  China  to  the 
Gospel.    Carey  went  to  India.    Even  the  Dark  Continent 


Sunrise  in  Astec  Land 


47 


was  reccing  the  Light,  but  Mexico,  right  on  our  bor- 
der, was  to  wait  for  fifty  years  for  a  messenger  from 
Protestant  America. 

Many  believed  that  the  Mexicans  had  no  need  of  the 
Gospel  inasmuch  as  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  claimed 
them  all  as  its  members.  But  God  had  not  forgotten 
Mexico.  In  1811,  among  the  green  hills  of  New  England, 
Melinda  Rankin,  wdio  became  the  first  missionary  to 
Mexico  and  the  first  woman  missionary  to  all  Latin 
America,  was  born.  She  was  a  volunteer  before  the  door 
opened  to  young  women,  and  it  was  she  who  opened  the 
door.  Her  first  work  was  among  the  Catholics  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley  in  which  she  was  engaged  when  the 
War  with  Mexico  closed. 

The  reports  of  the  returning  soldiers  stirred  the  interest 
of  the  United  States  in  the  neglected  people  beyond  the 


FIRST  PROTESTANT   SCHOOL   FOR   MEXICAN   GiRLS 


48  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Laud 

Rio  Grande.  Miss  Rankin's  sympathies  were  enlisted  and 
she  resolved  to  give  her  life  to  their  enlightenment.  She 
could  not  enter  Mexico  at  that  time  as  the  Mexican  Con- 
stitution forbade  the  entrance  of  any  but  those  of  Roman 
Catholic  faith.  However,  she  went  to  Brownsville,  Texas, 
right  on  the  Mexican  border  and  opened  a  school  for 
Mexican  children.  She  had  only  five  at  the  beginning, 
but  the  number  soon  grew  to  thirty,  then  to  fifty,  then  to 
a  hundred.  She  also  began  to  circulate  the  Bible.  Her 
work  was  begun  in  1852.  Two  years  later  she  wrote,  "I 
have  put  up  a  building  right  on  the  border  of  Mexico  for 
a  school  for  Mexican  children."  This  building  still  stands 
in  Brownsville  as  the  first  one  dedicated  to  the  education 
of  the  Latin  American  peoples  in  the  evangelical  faith. 

When  religious  liberty  was  secured  in  Mexico  in  1857, 
Miss  Rankin  lost  no  time  in  crossing'  the  Rio  Grande. 
Her  first  work  in  Mexico  was  in  Matamoros  where  she 
continued  a  work  similar  to  that  in  Brownsville.  Later 
she  moved  to  Monterey.  Here  again  she  established  a 
school  and  began  her  work  of  distributing  Bibles.  No 
mission  board  was  found  to  support  her  work,  so  she 
made  several  trips  to  the  United  Stated  to  solicit  funds. 
Other  centers  were  established  and  she  soon  began  calling 
into  the  service  of  Christ  some  young  Mexicans  who 
joined  her  in  the  work  of  extending  the  Gospel  to  many 
parts  of  Northern  Mexico.  In  1872,  on  account  of  broken 
health.  Miss  Rankin  retired  from  the  work,  but  not 
until  she  had  seen  fourteen  centers  of  evangelical  work 
established. 

The  life  of  Miss  Rankin  is  of  great  interest  because 
she  established  two  sound  principles  of  missionary  policy. 
First,  her  approach  to  the  Mexicans  was  characterized  by 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  49 

love  and  by  kindness.  "I  believe  it  is  wise,"  she  wrote, 
"as  far  as  possible  to  avoid  prejudices  in  our  labors  among 
Roman  Catholics.  It  has  been  a  fixed  principle  with  me 
not  to  attack  their  religion,  but  to  present  the  Truth  and 
let  the  Truth  do  its  work.  If  you  wish  to  light  up  a  room, 
carry  a  light  into  it  and  the  darkness  will  disperse  of 
itself."  Second,  Miss  Rankin  realized  that  the  chief 
agency  in  the  evangelization  of  Mexico  must  be  the 
Mexican.  It  is  the  work  of  the  missionary  to  pick  out 
and  train  leaders  to  bear  the  Good  News,  but  the  light 
must  be  spread  in  Mexico  in  large  measure  by  the  Mexi- 
cans themselves. 

The  next  decade,  1870  to  1880,  saw  the  beginning  of 
many  Protestant  missions  in  Mexico.  In  1871  work  was 
started  by  the  Society  of  Friends  and  by  the  Northern 
Baptist  church.  The  year  following  the  Presbyterian 
Church  U.  S.  A.  and  the  Congregationalists  began  work, 
being  followed  the  next  year  by  the  Northern  and  Southern 
Methodist  churches.  The  Presbyterian  Church,  U.  S., 
the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterians,  and  the  Southern 
Baptists,  began  their  work  in  the  years  1874,  1878,  and 
1880  respectively.  Later  the  Episcopalians  entered  the 
field.  Since  then  other  smaller  denominations  have  sent 
missionaries,  and  some  independent  bodies  have  sprung  up 
from  time  to  time. 

III. 

Our    Southern    Presbyterian   Work 

Anthony  Thomas  Graybill,  our  pioneer  missionary  to 
Mexico  was  born  of  godly  parents,  and  was  well  grounded 
in  the  principles  of  our  faith.     He  was  reared  on  a  farm 


50  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Laud 

where  he  learned  the  dignity  of  toil  and  there  he  developed 
a  robust  constitution.  Having  lived  in  the  Blue  Ridge 
mountains,  he  was  prepared  for  the  Sierras  of  Mexico. 

For  four  years  Mr.  Graybill  was  with  Lee  in  Virginia. 
He  was  wounded  in  the  second  battle  of  Manassas  and  as 
he  lay  on  the  ground  in  the  midst  of  the  noise  of  battle, 
the  peace  of  God  came  into  his  soul  and  he  promised  that 
if  his  life  should  be  spared  he  would  spend  it  in  God's 
service.  While  at  home  recovering  from  his  wounds,  he 
joined  the  Presbyterian  Church.  After  the  war  he  con- 
tinued his  studies  at  Roanoke  College  later  graduating 
from  Union  Theological  Seminary  at  Hampden-Sidney. 
Soon  after  this  Mr.  Graybill  felt  the  call  to  the  foreign 
field.  He  remained  steadfast  in  his  purpose  and  offered 
himself  to  our  Executive  Committee  of  Foreign  Missions 
for  service  in  Mexico.  The  Presbytery  of  West  Texas 
was  already  urging  upon  the  Committee  the  importance 
of  beginning  work  in  Mexico.  Thus  God  was  preparing 
the  work  and  the  worker. 

How  THE  Door  was  opened.  Two  American  officers 
during  the  war  with  Mexico  entered  a  Mexican  home 
about  thirty  miles  above  Matamoros  and  gave  a  Bible  to 
a  young  Mexican  woman.  The  officers  returned  to  the 
home  a  few  weeks  later  and,  not  finding  the  Bible,  asked 
where  it  was.  The  woman  said  the  Bishop  passing  that 
way  had  burned  it.  They  gave  her  another,  and  she 
accepted  it  although  contrary  to  her  parent's  wishes.  She 
hid  it  under  the  roots  of  a  tree  where  she  would  go  and 
read  in  secret.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  she  moved 
with  her  children  to  Brownsville  where  she  publicly  pro- 
fessed her  faith  in  her  Lord  and  was  baptized.  She  went 
back  to  Mexico  trusting  that  some  day  Christ  might  hear 


Miss  Melimia  Rankin 


Rev.  Anthony  Thomas 
Graybill,  D.  D. 


Mrs.  Douglas 
Taylor  Graybill 


52  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

her  prayers  for  her  nation  and  send  his  messengers  thither. 
She  was  among  the  first  Mexicans  to  meet  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Grayhill  on  tlieir  arrival  in  Mexico.  The  door  was  swing- 
ing open. 

The  First  Convert.  This  Christian  woman  was  soon 
to  reap  a  rich  reward  for  her  faith.  Her  son,  named 
Leandro,  was  about  twenty  years  old  when  the  Graybills 
reached  ]\Iatamoros.  Leandro  was  a  bartender  but  was 
out  of  employment.  He  offered  to  teach  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Graybill  Spanish,  and  immediately  a  lasting  friendship 
grew  up  between  the  two  young  men.  Soon  their  studies 
led  to  the  reading  of  the  New  Testament.  Mr.  Graybill 
pressed  the  claims  of  the  Gospel  on  Leandro  and  the  Lord 
opened  his  heart.  Three  months  after  Mr.  Graybill 
reached  Matamoros,  Sr.  Leandro  Garza  Mora  was  bap- 
tized. 

The  First  Student  for  the  Ministry.  To  Leandro 
Garza  Mora,  accepting  Christ  was  equivalent  to  becoming 
His  messenger.  He  at  once  began  his  studies  with  Mr. 
Graybill  in  preparation  for  the  ministry.  Thus  Mr.  Gray- 
bill began  a  form  of  missionary  endeavor  that  character- 
ized his  whole  work.  His  home  was  the  first  Theological 
Seminary. 

The  First  Public  Service.  He  was  a  brilliant 
Frenchman  who  sarcastically  called  the  Bible  and  the 
Sabbath  the  two  sacraments  of  the  Protestants.  These, 
however,  were  the  two  institutions  which  Mr.  Graybill 
took  with  him  to  Mexico.  He  at  once  saw  the  need  for 
them.  He  writes  of  the  conditions :  "Although  there  is 
intelligence  and  culture  in  the  upper  classes,  superstition, 
infidelity  and  concubinage   reign.     There  is   no   sabbath 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  53 

except  as  marked  by  bull  fights  and  cock-fights  attended 
by  both  sexes  and  all  classes."  The  Sabbath  was  a  lost 
institution,  and  the  Bil)le  an  unknown  book. 

"If  you  will  appoint  a  service  in  your  home,  I  will  go 
out  and  try  to  induce  some  of  my  friends  to  come,"  Don 
Leandro  said  to  Mr.  Graybill  soon  after  he  had  begun 
his  studies.  To  this  service  about  a  dozen  of  the  poorer 
class  came,  including  men,  women  and  children.  Our 
hearts  are  full  of  praise  to  God  for  that  group  who  were 
willing  to  face  persecution  and  excommunication.  A  Sun- 
day School  began  that  morning.  There  were  two  classes. 
Mrs.  Graybill  took  the  children  into  her  room  and  taught 
them  l)ible  verses  and  hymns.  Mr.  Graybill  took  the  adults 
and  after  distributing  Bibles,  taught  them  the  Word  of 
God.  They  all  came  together  again  and  sang  hymns, 
followed  by  prayer.  This  service  was  followed  imme- 
diately by  another  in  which  Mr.  Graybill  preached.  The 
door  that  was  opened  on  that  day  has  never  been  closed. 

The  First  Christmas.  The  celebration  in  Mexico  of 
the  birthday  of  our  Saviour  is  mingled  with  so  much  gaiety 
and  ignorance  that  it  covers  up  almost  entirely  the  true 
nature  of  the  event.  As  the  first  Christmas  approached, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graybill,  alert  to  everything  that  would 
attract  the  Mexican  people  to  Christ,  determined  upon  an 
appropriate  celebration.  With  a  desire  to  bind  the  chil- 
dren of  Virginia  to  the  children  of  Mexico,  Mrs.  Graybill 
interested  some  little  friends  in  Richmond  in  their  plans 
for  a  Christmas  tree  and  they  furnished  the  necessary 
money.  She  wrote  to  them  of  it  afterwards :  "I  wish  you 
could  have  seen  how  delighted  all  of  the  little  folks  were 
the  Sabbath  before  Christmas,  when  I  told  them  we  would 
have  a  Christmas  for  them  with  dukes  (candies)  and  a 


54  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

present  for  every  child.  Though  many  of  them  did  not 
know  what- a  Christmas  tree  meant  (for  most  of  them 
are  very  poor),  they  knew  what  dulccs  and  presents 
meant.  The  services  began  with  the  boys  reciting :  "Gloria 
A  Dios  en  lo  Alto"  (Glory  to  God  in  the  Highest).  I 
could  scarcely  keep  back  the  tears  of  gratitude  when  I 
saw  these  children  who  a  few  months  ago  were  sullen, 
dejected-looking,  dirty  and  ragged,  now  all  neatly  dressed 
and  singing  with  beaming  faces." 

From  that  day  to  this  the  Christmas  Fiestas  have  been 
an  important  feature  of  the  church  life.  The  effort  is 
made  more  and  more  to  make  them  spiritual  services  and 
use  them  as  means  to  win  men  to  the  Saviour.  At  the 
Christmas  entertainment  in  one  of  the  churches  in  1920 
a  man  attended  a  Protestant  service  for  the  first  time. 
From  that  service  he  became  a  constant  attendant,  and 
was  soon  converted  and  received  into  the  church.  In 
another  one  of  our  centers  where  we  have  a  school  and 
church  services,  the  Catholics  begin  weeks  ahead  to  ask 
about  the  Christmas  celebration  and  gladly  allow  their 
children  to  take  part. 

The  First  Church  Organized.  "I  rejoice  to  be  able 
to  report  that  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  continues  with 
us,"  writes  Mr.  Graybill  in  the  spring  of  1875.  "On  last 
Sunday  I  received  six  more  members  on  confession  of 
their  faith."  It  was  then  that  the  first  church  was  organ- 
ized. There  were  eighteen  adult  members.  Elders  were 
elected  and  ordained,  and  weekly  offerings  were  made  at 
the  services.  A  beginning  was  made  toward  self-govern- 
ment and  self-support,  which  has  been  realized  today  in 
the  National  Frontier  Presbytery.     In  1921  this  Presby- 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  55 

tery  gave  $26,000  for  self-support  and  received  539  new 
members. 

One  of  the  two  elders  of  this  first  church  was  Col. 
.Manuel  Loranca,  who  had  been  in  the  Mexican  army  for 
forty  years,  at  one  time  was  military  governor  of  Mata- 
moros,  and  was  with  Santa  Anna  at  the  taking  of  the 
Alamo.  He  had  a  prayer  meeting  in  his  home  every  night, 
and  took  part  in  the  public  worship.  His  testimony  to 
the  power  of  Christ  was  felt  among  all  classes. 

The  First  Great  Sorrow.  The  Gospel  advances  over 
the  graves  of  the  fallen.  There  are  sacred  spots  in  Mexico 
where  lies  the  dust  of  her  missionaries.  Just  eighteen 
months  after  she  reached  Matamoros,  Mrs.  Graybill  was 
laid  to  rest.  She  represented  the  very  flower  and  beauty 
of  Old  Virginia.  She  would  have  been  noble  in  any 
sphere.  Her  life  was  brief — about  thirty  years — and  yet 
"the  best  is  not  too  good  for  God's  work,  and  the  length 
of  life  is  not  the  measure  of  its  service."  Writing  of  her, 
Mr.  Graybill  says :  "God  has  called  her  to  heaven  and 
left  my  home  desolate.  Her  great  activity  in  her  household 
duties,  in  her  day  and  Sunday  School,  and  in  her  social 
relations,  her  cheerfulness  and  sweetness,  beguiled  us.  I 
did  not  perceive  that  that  soul  in  earnest  in  its  Master's 
work  had  so  brought  the  body  under  its  behests  as  to  wear 
it  out  almost  to  life's  end  without  being  conscious  of  it. 
Her  reduced  condition  left  her  open  to  an  attack  of 
pneumonia ;  and  when  it  came,  even  slightly,  there  was  not 
strength  to  resist,  and  how  soon  it  did  its  work  !  When 
it  was  announced  to  her  that  her  disease  was  fatal,  and 
would  soon  end  in  death,  she  manifested  no  discomposure, 
though  the  news  was  as  unexpected  to  her  as  to  me. 
Cheerful  all  the  time,  receiving  her  friends  with  a  smile, 


56  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

and  thanking  them  for  their  attention  to  the  last,  she  said, 
'Jesus  is  with  me.  He  has  made  my  dying  bed  so  happy. 
He  is  so  precious,  1  am  waiting  to  go.'  The  angeHc  smile 
was  on  her  lips  until  it  was  hid  from  me  forever.  Her 
life  work  was  short,  but,  by  God's  blessing,  powerful  in 
results.  But  it  is  probable  that  her  work  on  her  dying 
bed  will  be  greater  than  all  before.  These  two  cities  know 
who  she  was,  and  admired  her.  They  knew  how  she  died, 
they  know  her  testimony  for  Christ,  and  that  no  heretic 
could  die  that  way." 

The  First  Church  Building.  Rev.  J.  G.  Hall,  who 
joined  the  Mission  in  the  fall  of  1877,  writes :  "In  the 
kind  providence  of  God  I  was  brought  safely  to  this  city 
on  last  Saturday,  and  on  the  following  day  it  was  my 
privilege  to  witness  what  I  will  not  soon  forget,  the  dedica- 
tion of  the  First  Protestant  Church  in  Northern  Mexico. 
The  want  of  an- appropriate  place  of  public  worship,  and 
the  importance  of  having  such  a  place  have  long  been  felt. 
Now,  after  so  long  a  time  the  laborers  are  rewarded  for 
their  waiting,  working,  and  praying  by  seeing  a  com- 
modious brick  building,  capable  of  seating  three  hundred 
persons,  and  furnished  with  seats,  lights,  pulpit  and  every- 
thing necessary,  rise  up  as  a  silent  witness  for  the  Truth 
in  the  midst  of  what  was,  until  recently,  a  purely  Romish 
Community.  This  edifice  was  on  last  Sunday,  with  fitting 
services,  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God  and  turned  over 
to  the  officers  of  the  Church,  three  deacons  and  three 
elders,  all  natives.  I  was  so  pleased  to  hear  one  of  the 
members  say  that  the  next  day  some  of  them,  happening 
to  be  together,  had  united  in  thanking  God  for  His  bless- 
ings in  building  the  church."  This  mother  church  still 
stands  and  has  been  the  center  for  many  historical  meet- 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  57 

ings,   among   them   the   organization    of    the    Presbytery 
which  came  a  few  years  later. 


IV. 

A  Growing  Work 

We  have  seen  how  the  work  begun  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Graybill  grew  from  the  very  beginning.  In  less  than 
three  months  the  first  convert  was  received.  In  less  than 
four  months  the  first  service  was  held.  In  a  little  more 
than  a  year  the  first  church  was  organized.  In  two  years 
the  first  church  building  was  dedicated  to  the  worship  of 
God. 

Preparing  Future  Ministers  and  Leaders.  Mr. 
Graybill  from  the  very  beginning  of  his  work  revealed 
those  qualities  of  missionary  statesmanship  which  char- 
acterized his  whole  career.  The  growing  work  must  be 
cared  for,  the  people  must  be  fed  the  bread  of  Life,  and 
leaders  must  be  trained.  There  was  a  succession  of  young 
men  going  out  from  this  teacher  to  their  work  until  in 
1901,  after  the  organization  of  the  Synod  of  Mexico,  the 
presbytery  began  sending  its  students  to  the  Presbyterian 
College  and  Seminary  in  Coyoacan. 

This  group  of  young  men  began  to  extend  the  work  to 
other  centers,  saying  with  Christ,  "Let  us  go  into  the 
next  towns,  that  we  may  preach  there  also."  The  first 
center  outside  of  Matamoros  was  Brownsville.  Here, 
they  established  a  "Friday  night"  service,  and  three  were 
present  the  first  night.  The  following  Friday  night  there 
were  two,  but  on  next  Friday  no  one  came.  Then  Mr. 
Graybill  and  Don  Leandro  went  to  see  those  who  had 


58  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

attended  the  first  service.  The  trouble  was  that  no  one 
knew  when  Friday  came.  The  plan  of  visiting  them  on 
Friday  was  adopted  and  the  attendance  increased,  and 
soon  regular  Sunday  services  were  appointed.  This  first 
center  has  continued  to  grow  during  the  years,  and  there 
is  now  in  Brownsville  a  large  and  well  organized  self- 
supporting  church  with  an  attractive  church  building  and 
well-equipped  Sunday  School  room. 

An  elder  in  the  church  in  Brownsville,  at  one  time  a 
desperate  character,  went  one  day  with  his  two  little 
daughters  to  the  home  of  his  uncle  thirty  miles  from 
Matamoros.  This  uncle,  named  Lopez,  was  a  very  ardent 
Catholic,  and  had  mass  said  in  his  home.  At  first,  the 
claims  of  the  Gospel  did  not  appeal  to  him.  But  what 
persuasion  could  not  do,  childish  voices  did.  The  children 
began  to  sing  some  of  the  Gospel  hymns  they  had  learned 
at  Sunday  School.  A  crowd  gathered,  attention  was 
aroused,  and  soon  regular  services  were  established  at 
the  place.  The  uncle  and  his  family  were  converted,  a 
church  was  organized,  and  Sr.  Lopez  became  one  of  the 
elders.  In  the  children  and  grandchildren  of  that  first 
couple,  the  work  is  being  carried  on  today.  One  of  the 
sons  remained  on  the  ranch  and  is  now  one  of  the  elders 
in  the  still  flourishing  church.  Another  son  lives  in 
Brownsville  where  he  and  his  family  are  among  the  leaders 
in  the  church.  The  widow  of  another  son  lives  in  San 
Benito  where  they  occupy  a  leading  place  in  the  church. 
One  grandson  is  now  a  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion Secretary  in  Mexico  City.  Another  grandson  is  a 
deacon  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  One  granddaughter 
is  wife  of  the  Presbyterian  minister  in  Matamoros  while 
other  granddaughters  are  members  of  the  church.    After 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  59 

fifty  years  God  is  still  honoring  the  labors  of  his  servants 
and  the  fidelit}'  of  one  who  was  ready  to  turn  from  his 
idols  to  serve  the  living  God. 

Goes  to  Kill  but  Stays  to  Pray.  Opposition  and 
persecution  on  the  part  of  the  Church  authorities  was  in- 
evitable. A  priest  was  becoming  very  uneasy  about  the 
progress  of  the  work  and  told  one  of  his  people,  a  poor 
man  by  the  name  of  Doroteo,  that  he  must  waylay  the 
ministers  on  their  return  from  the  services.  As  an 
obedient  servant  of  the  church- — which  was  to  him  the 
voice  of  God — he  got  his  knife  and  pistol,  and  the  ap- 
pointed night  started  to  his  ambush.  But  God  had  other 
plans  for  him.  He  stopped  at  the  preaching  place  to  see 
his  victim  and  estimate  his  strength.  He  entered,  listened, 
and  something  the  preacher  said  about  Christ  attracted 
his  attention.  He  listened  more  attentively  till  the  words 
pierced  his  heart  and  revealed  to  him  his  whole  life  of 
sin.  For  several  days  he  was  in  a  stupor,  but,  like  Paul 
at  the  end  of  days  of  blindness,  he  heard  a  voice  saying 
to  him,  "Christ  Jesus  maketh  thee  whole,"  and  at  once  he 
accepted  the  Gospel  which  he  had  gone  to  destroy.  In 
this  place  a  chapel  was  soon  built,  and  a  church  was 
organized  with  Doroteo  as  one  of  the  leading  members. 

The  Servant  of  God  is  Protected.  The  spirit  which 
moved  Mr.  Graybill  was  passed  on  to  his  students,  and 
these,  like  their  leader,  pushed  forward,  suffering  perse- 
cutions and  dangers  for  His  sake.  Don  Leandro  began 
services  about  thirty  miles  up  the  Rio  Grande.  During  a 
service  one  night,  a  piece  of  iron  was  hurled  at  his  head 
by  an  unknown  person.  But  God  protected  him  from  the 
missile  of  the  fanatic.  At  this  very  service,  Don  Leandro 
gave  a  Bible  to  a  friend  who  in  turn  gave  it  to  a  man  by 


60 


Sttm-isc  ill  Aztec  Land 


the  name  of  Alejo  Espinoza.  This  Bible  brought  Espiiioza 
to  Christ,  so  that  he  devoted  his  life  to  the  Master's  ser- 
vice, and  became  the  fourth  student  who  enrolled  in  the 
theological  class. 

The  First  Ordination.  Our  hearts  love  to  dwell  on 
the  scene  when  the  first  minister  was  ordained.  This 
took  place  in  the  new  church  in  Matamoros  in  1879.  The 
first  convert,  the  first  student  for  the  ministry,  again  holds 
the  primal  place.  A  large  audience  witnessed  the  cere- 
mony. Mr.  Hall  preached  the  sermon.  The  candidate  had 
already  been  examined  in  literary  courses,  and  had 
preached  his  trial  sermon,  had  read  his  popular  lecture  and 
had  prepared  his  critical  exercise.  At  this  service  he 
was  examined  in  theology,  church  history,  church  govern- 
ment, discipline  and  the  sacraments.  Sr.  Leandro  Garza 
Mora  was  then  ordained  by  the  laying  on  of  hands  of  the 
ordained  missionaries  and'  the  elders. 


A.   B.    Carrero 


L.  G.  Mora 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  61 

The  story  of  Rev.  Leandro  Garza  Mora  is  practically 
the  story  of  the  first  forty  years  of  our  work  in  Mexico. 
He  was  the  first  convert,  the  first  student  for  the  ministry, 
the  first  ordained  minister,  the  first  moderator  of  the 
Presbytery,  the  first  general  evangelist  for  the  Presbytery 
and  the  leader  of  the  movement  to  organize  an  independent 
work  when  we  moved  to  the  South  in  1919.  He  was  the 
leading  spirit  in  opening  up  the  work  in  and  around 
Matamoros,  Brownsville,  Linares,  and  Jimenez.  In  inter- 
denominational work,  he  has  been  honored  by  being  made 
president  of  the  National  Convention  of  all  Christian 
forces  in  Mexico.  His  bow  still  abides  in  strength.  He  is 
now  the  leader  in  the  Self-Supporting  National  Presby- 
tery in  the  Northern  part  of  Mexico.  "Don  Leandro," 
as  he  is  affectionately  called,  is  well  known  by  some  of  our 
older  ministers  in  the  United  States,  who  met  him  while 
he  was  visiting  in  this  country. 

A  Pioneer.  The  second  student  ordained  was  Sr. 
Eduardo  Carrero.  This  young  man  of  lithe  body  and 
strong  constitution  combined  in  his  character  some  of  the 
finest  qualities  of  the  Mexican  people.  He  was  refined, 
gentle,  genial,  cultured  and  sympathetic.  When  Christ 
touched  his  heart  he  gave  himself  devotedly  to  His  ser- 
vice. He  had  the  spirit  of  a  pioneer,  for  it  was  he  who 
went  to  regions  beyond  the  circle  that  was  the  boundary 
of  such  good  work  in  and  around  Matamoros.  He  early 
felt  the  call  of  God  to  preach  in  Victoria,  the  Capital  of  the 
State  of  Taumalipas,  and  with  his  family  opened  the  work 
there.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  presby- 
tery. Of  his  interesting  family  one  son  is  a  prominent 
minister  who  has  been  for  four  years  pastor  of  the  Church 
for  Spanish-speaking  people  in  Monterrey.    One  daughter 


62  Sunrise  in  Acfcc  Laud 

is  the  wife  of  Rev.  Ezequiel  Fernandez  pastor  of  our 
church  in  Toluca.  Other  sons  and  daughters  are  all  mem- 
hers  of  the  Preshyterian  Church. 

A  Soldier  Under  Two  Captains.  Let  us  recall  the 
story  of  the  Bihle  given  at  the  service  outside  of  Mata- 
moros  when  Don  Leandro  so  narrowly  escaped  being 
killed,  and  of  the  subsequent  conversion  of  Sr.  Espinoza 
and  of  his  desire  to  devote  his  life  to  Christ's  service. 
He  joined  the  class  of  students  and  found  in  their  fellow- 
ship complete  satisfaction.  He  loved  democratic  institu- 
tions and  fought  under  Juarez  to  secure  them  for  his 
country.  When  he  began  his  studies  with  Mr.  Graybill, 
he  found  that  the  form  of  government  and  principles  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  fell  exactly  in  line  with  his  think- 
ing. His  satisfaction  in  finding  these  democratic  ideals 
gave  him  wonderful  power  in  defending  them.  Having 
fought  under  Juarez,  he  would  now  fight  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Christ.  While  still  a  student,  he  published  a  paper 
called  "Las  Beunas  Nuevas"  (The  Good  News),  and 
another  called  "La  Reforma"  (The  Reformation).  Dur- 
ing his  ministry,  he  held  some  of  the  most  important 
pastorates  in  the  Presbytery  and  was  for  many  years 
Stated  Clerk  of  the  Presbytery.  After  thirty  years  of 
active  service,  broken  health  laid  him  aside,  and  the  last 
four  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  quietly  awaiting  God's 
call.  His  life  had  shown  many  how  to  live ;  his  death 
showed  how  a  Christian  can  die.  His  failing  voice  was 
still  used  to  praise  his  Saviour  as  he  repeated  in  scarcely 
audible  tones,  "The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  His  Son  cleanses 
us  from  all  sin."  He  responded  "Amen"  to  a  prayer  led 
by  one  of  the  younger  ministers,  and  with  this  his  lips 
closed. 


Su}irise  in  Aztec  Laud  63 

It  was  given  to  these  men  and  those  hke  them  through- 
out Mexico  to  show  their  fellow  countrymen  the  way  out 
of  superstition  and  sin  into  the  joy  of  being  sons  and 
daughters  of  God, 

V. 

Early  Dawn 

While  the  work  was  opening  up  so  marvelously,  God 
was  raising  up  those  who  should  follow  in  the  train  of 
the  pathfinders.  Two  had  gone  out,  but  one  of  these, 
after  eighteen  months  of  service,  had  fallen.  Mr.  Gray- 
bill  in  his  visit  home  had  urged  on  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee the  imperative  need  for  reinforcements. 

The  First  to  Hear  the  Call.  Reference  has  already 
been  made  to  the  good  work  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Hall  in  Mata- 
moros.  After  a  short  stay  there,  he  was  transferred  to 
Brownsville,  where  a  school  had  been  established.  The 
united  work  of  Mr.  Graybill  and  Mr.  Hall  revealed,  in  a 
remarkable  way,  the  wisdom  of  sending  out  missionaries 
two  by  two,  as  Christ  did.  Mr.  Graybill  was  an  excellent 
executive  and  was  eagerly  aggressive.  Mr.  Hall  had 
splendid  command  of  the  language  and  easily  interpreted 
the  truths  of  Christianity  to  the  people.  Later  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hall  were  sent  to  Victoria  where  they  remained  until 
their  transfer  to  Cuba  in  1899. 

The  school  in  Brownsville,  under  Mrs.  Hall,  grew  to 
such  proportions  that  an  assistant  was  needed.  In  1879 
Miss  Hattie  Loughridge  came  to  supply  this  need.  The 
following  year  Mr.  Graybill  and  Miss  Loughridge  were 
married  and  labored  together  until  her  death  in  April, 
1889. 


64  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

"The  White  Doctor/'  The  next  who  heard  the  call 
was  a  doctor.  He  proved  a  worthy  follower  of  the  Great 
Physician.  In  1881,  Dr.  j.  W.  Grayhill.  hrother  of 
Anthony  Grayhill,  joined  the  mission.  His  wife  was  Miss 
Luella  Crockett,  of  Kentucky.  The  year  following  their 
arrival  in  Brownsville,  the  yellow  fever  raged  for  weeks, 
and  Dr.  Grayhill  treated  four  hundred  cases  with  the  loss 
of  only  two.  He  himself  took  the  fever,  hut  he  still 
attended  the  families  of  the  poor,  making  no  charges.  He 
was  afifectionately  called  the  "White  Doctor."  His 
splendid  heginning  was  cut  short  by  Mrs.  Graybill's  ill 
•health.  She  could  not  live  in  the  trying  climate  of  Mata- 
moros  so  they  were  compelled  to  give  up  their  work. 

When  Miss  Loughridge  married,  Miss  Janet  Houston 
came  to  help  in  the  school  in  Brownsville.  But  as  she 
herself  says,  some  of  her  best  work  was  done  after  school 
hours.  She  gladly  ministered  to  the  needs  of  the  afflicted. 
Even  today,  the  mention  of  "Miss  Janet"  brings  a  smile 
of  gratitude  or  a  tear  of  fond  remembrance.  Recently 
she  wrote :  "The  work  I  enjoyed  most  was  in  those  grass- 
thatched  huts  where  we  sat  on  oil  boxes  and  read  to  eager 
women  the  'sweetest  story  ever  told.'  I  know  very  little 
of  the  results.  They  loved  me  and  I  loved  them,  and  I 
know  that  is  the  best  ground  in  which  to  sow  seed." 

Miss  Anne  E.  Dysart  came  in  1882  and  began  her 
work  in  the  school  in  Matamoros.  Here  she  continued  at 
the  head  of  the  school  until  1919  when  she  opened  up  a 
center  of  Christian  activities  in  San  Benito,  removing 
later  to  Austin  where  she  continued  similar  work. 

In  1890  Miss  E.  V.  Lee  joined  the  forces  in  Matamoros. 
She  brought  to  her  work  a  mind  well-trained  in  languages. 


Sunrise  in  .htcc  Land  65 

having  spent  a  year  in  Europe  doing  special  study.  Her 
mastery  of  the  language  and  her  splendid  work  in  transla- 
tion have  heen  of  great  service  in  the  work.  Miss  Lee 
spent  eighteen  months  in  Matamoros.  Then  she  went 
to  Linares  where  she  directed  the  hoarding  school  for 
seven  years,  and  then  to  Victoria,  where  she  worked 
single-handed  for  twenty  years.  She  had  classes  in  Bible, 
English,  French,  and  Music.  She  translated  into  Spanish, 
Axtell's,  "The  Organized  Sunday  School,"  and  Price's 
"Syllabus  of  the  Old  Testament,"  both  of  which  were 
published  and  are  valuable  additions  to  our  Evangelical 
literature.  One  of  the  most  valuable  contributions  Miss 
Lee  has  made  is  her  work  as  Treasurer  of  the  Mission. 
At  present  she  is  living  in  Laredo  as  banking  facilities 
there  make  it  a  specially  good  center  for  the  treasury. 

In  1891,  Miss  Sarah  E.  Bedingee,  of  Anchorage, 
Kentucky,  started  work  in  Mexico.  For  nine  years  she 
labored  in  Alatamoros,  and  in  1900  she  was  transferred  to 
Montemorelos.  Here  she  remained  until  her  marriage  to 
Mr.  J.  R.  Lowe  in  March,  1911.  She  was  especially 
gifted  in  young  peoples'  work  and  her  Junior  Christian 
Endeavor  Society,  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  boys  and 
girls,  forms  the  banner  society  of  the  Republic. 

In  1892,  Miss  Minnie  Gunn  came  to  bring  her  sun- 
shine to  the  people  of  Mexico.  Evidently  the  mission 
wanted  to  scatter  this  sunshine,  for  they  placed  her  in 
Linares  three  years,  in  Victoria  two  years,  in  Monte- 
morelos over  a  year,  and  in  Matamoros  for  several  months. 
In  March,  1899,  she  married  Rev.  R.  D.  Campbell  of  the 
Texas-Mexican  Mission. 

Miss  Ella  Cummins  went  to  Matamoros  in  1894. 
Thousrh  an  accident  during-  the  summer  of  1897  forced  her 


66  Sioirise  in  Aztec  Land 

to  leave  the  work,  her  gentle  life  left  its  impress.  From 
Covington,  Tennessee,  she  wrote  a  short  time  ago :  "I 
loved  the  work  and  the  workers,  and  it  was  hard  for  me  to 
give  it  up." 

Miss  Edith  Houston  came  later  to  help  in  the  school 
in  Brownsville  where  she  remained  until  her  transfer  to 
Cuba.  She  left  sweet  memories  in  the  hearts  of  her  pupils 
as  their  words  have  so  often  shown. 

Miss  Jessie  Bedinger,  of  Kentucky,  also  came  to 
Matamoros  as  a  self-supporting  missionary.  She  gave 
herself  unstintingly  to  the  work  until  failing  health  caused 
her  to  give  it  up. 

In  1895  Dr.  Graybill  married  Miss  Annie  Ottaway,  of 
New  York.  With  her  splendid  executive  gifts  and  her 
unusual  home-making  qualities,  she  added  greatly  to  the 
usefulness  of  Dr.  Graybill  during  the  latter  years  of  his 
life.  She  survived  him  by  seven  years  and  continued  in 
the  Mission  until  failing  health  compelled  her  return  to  the 
home  of  her  brother  in  New  York,  where  she  died  in  1912. 

In  1903  Rev,  J.  O.  Shelby,  who  had  just  graduated 
from  the  Divinity  School  of  Southwestern  University, 
came  to  Mexico.  He  was  located  in  Linares.  In  studying 
the  needs  and  problems  of  the  work,  he  had  the  advantage 
of  being  with  Dr.  Graybill,  who  had  understood  and 
solved  them  so  faithfully  for  many  years. 

To  THE  Capital  of  the  State.  One  day  there  came 
across  the  plain  a  clear  and  unmistakable  call  from  the  city 
of  Victoria,  the  Capital  of  the  State  of  Tamaulipas.  The 
call  was  heard  by  Sr.  Eduaixlo  Carrero.  His  acquaint- 
ances could  not  understand  the  spirit  of  the  man  who 
would  risk  his  life  and  that  of  his  family.     There  were 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  67 

no  public  conveyances,  no  hotels,  no  bridges.  The  way 
led  through  sparsely-settled  country.  In  those  days  of 
lawlessness  and  fanaticism,  pioneers  truly  cast  themselves 
upon  God.  His  friends  had  tried  to  dissuade  Mr.  Carrero 
from  going,  but  nothing  moved  him  from  his  purpose. 
He  lengthened  the  Gospel  lines  and  planted  the  Cross  in 
a  stronghold  of  Romanism.  They  found  a  quaint  city 
of  about  seven  thousand  people,  the  seat  of  the  Bishop  of 
Taumalipas  with  a  training  school  for  priests.  This  city 
occupies  a  favorable  natural  situation  with  towns,  villages 
and  ranches  surrounding  it.  The  young  minister  with 
his  family  made  it  the  center  of  an  active  work.  But  the 
task  was  difficult ;  their  lives  were  in  danger.  "We  are 
glad  to  have  you  and  your  family  live  in  our  city,"  his 
friends  said,  but  your  idea  of  establishing  the  Gospel 
where  the  Bishop  lives  is  fanatical.  Be  careful  how  you 
walk  the  streets  at  night  and  do  not  go  outside  the  city." 

The  work  prospered  from  the  beginning.  In  two  years 
thirty  had  been  baptized.  A  year  or  two  later,  Mr.  Gray- 
bill  visited  the  field.  After  a  few  days  spent  in  the  ranches 
and  villages  where  Mr.  Carrero  had  begun  work,  they 
returned  to  Victoria,  many  of  the  Christian  people  of  the 
out-stations  returning  with  them.  On  Sunday,  the  Church 
was  organized  with  an  elder  and  a  deacon.  Four  years 
had  made  a  mighty  change  in  Victoria.  We  love  to  dwell 
on  the  contrast  between  that  day  and  the  day  the  Carreros 
reached  the  city.  In  four  years,  a  Protestant  Church  had 
become  an  established  fact.  Victoria  has  grown  to  a 
population  of  more  than  twenty  thousand  while  our  church 
has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  leading  churches  of  the  Presby- 
tery.   It  is  well  organized  and  self-supporting. 


68  Sunrise  in  Actcc  Land 

Jimenez.  A  few  years  later  Don  Leandro  offered  to 
open  work  in  Jimenez,  a  cit}-  about  one  hundred  and  tiftv 
miles  south  of  Matamoros.  He  suft'ered  many  ])ersecu- 
tions.  One  night  when  only  he  and  his  family  were 
present  at  the  service,  a  crowd  of  roughs  came  and  would 
undoulitedly  have  injured  them,  had  not  a  wealthy  young 
man  organized  a  force  and  let  it  be  known  that  protection 
would  be  given  the  worshippers.  The  fires  of  persecution 
continued  for  more  than  a  year,  and  during  that  time  the 
life  of  the  minister  was  many  times  in  danger.  But  the 
work  progressed.  .\  flourishing  group  of  country  con- 
gregations was  established  and  in  two  years  a  church  was 
organized,  some  of  the  leading  families  of  the  city  becom- 
ing members. 

Don  Leandro  goes  to  Montemorelos.  When  the 
priest  of  Montemorelos  heard  that  a  Protestant  minister 
was  about  to  arrive,  he  had  mass  said  every  day,  praying 
the  Virgin  to  destroy  the  intruder  on  the  way.  He  also 
formed  a  party  of  young  men  to  accompany  him  with 
pistols  to  meet  God's  messenger  and  to  help  the  Virgin 
work  a  miracle.  But  the  minister  and  his  family  arrived 
before  the  priest  knew  about  it.  One  year  later,  Don 
Leandro  writes :  "Thirty-four  adults  and  seven  children 
received ;  the  church  organized  with  four  elders  and  three 
deacons ;  a  very  active  ladies'  aid ;  Sunday  School  of 
twenty  members." 

Linares.  It  was  always  "forward"  with  Dr.  (iraybill. 
He  and  his  wife  went  to  Linares  in  1888.  l^^or  days  they 
could  find  no  one  who  would  rent  them  a  house.  They 
were  stoned,  pelted  with  eggs,  avoided  and  despised.  But 
earnest  hearts  were  found  and  a  church  was  organized. 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  69 

First  Day  School.  When  the  Graybills  saw  the 
children  who  attended  their  services  being  rebuffed, 
mocked  and  even  beaten  Iw  their  former  friends,  they 
felt  the  need  of  a  day  school,  and  one  was  opened  in  their 
dining-room  with  Mrs.  Graybill  as  the  teacher.  A  little 
girl  who  learned  the  Ten  Commandments  in  this  school 
repeated  them  at  home.  Her  uncle  with  whom  she  lived 
said,  "Why,  that  cannot  be  in  the  Bible  for  it  prohibits 
our  religion ;  it  prohibits  bowing  down  to  images."  He 
came  to  ask  whether  it  was  in  the  Bible  and  when  it  was 
shown  to  him,  he  said,  "Well,  that  cuts  up  by  the  roots 
all  that  we  Mexicans  know  about  religion." 

The  Roman  Catholic  Catechism  does  not,  in  Catholic 
countries,  contain  the  Second  Commandment,  the  Tenth 
being  divided  into  two  to  complete  the  number.  This  same 
man  said  that  he  had  never  known  before  that  the  Bible 
taught  to  "Remember  the  Sabbath  Day  to  keep  it  Holy," 
for  the  Roman  Catholic  Catechism  says,  "Remember  the 
feast  days  to  keep  them  holy." 

Another  little  girl  of  this  school,  brought  her  whole 
family  to  Christ.  From  the  very  beginning,  all  of  our 
day  schools  have  been  lighthouses.  Not  only  have  they 
educated  children  who  otherwise  would  have  grown  up 
in  ignorance,  but  they  have  been  feeders  for  our  Sunday 
Schools  and  churches. 

First  Boarding  School.  To  prepare  teachers  for 
the  day  schools,  the  school  of  Matamoros  was  gradually 
developed  into  a  higher  school  with  a  boarding  department. 
Miss  Dysart  was  principal  of  this  school  for  almost  thirty 
years.  From  her  the  girls  imbibed  new  ideals  of  honor, 
integrity,   industry  and   thrift.     In   spite   of   the  meager 


70  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

equipment  of  the  school,  nunil)ers  of  well-trained  Chris- 
tian girls  were  sent  out  to  be  teachers  and  home-builders. 

A  Presbytery  and  a  Synod.  Five  churches  had  been 
organized  by  the  Mission,  with  about  four  hundred  adult 
members.  It  was  time  that  the  control  of  these  churches 
should  pass  from  the  Mission  to  a  Presbytery.  Mata- 
moros  was  again  to  be  honored.  Here  the  first  presbytery 
was  organized  in  1884,  just  ten  years  after  the  arrival  of 
the  first  missionaries. 

It  was  a  missionary  presbytery.  At  the  organization, 
all  of  the  ministers  were  instructed  to  preach  a  missionary 
sermon  in  each  of  the  churches  three  times  a  year  and  to 
take  an  offering  for  the  extension  of  the  Gospel.  This 
missionary  spirit  bore  fruit.  The  next  year,  seven  young 
men  were  taken  under  the  care  of  Presbytery  as  students 
for  the  ministry,  five  of  them  supporting  themselves.  At 
the  third  meeting,  a  memorial  was  unanimously  adopted 
instructing  all  churches  to  take  a  missionary  offering  once 
each  month.  On  the  last  night  of  the  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery, the  "Missionary  Service"  was  held  and  a  special 
missionary  offering  was  taken.  This  Missionary  Service 
is  repeated  from  year  to  year,  jvist  as  the  home  church 
looks  forward  each  year  to  the  Self-denial  week  for 
Foreign  Missions. 

The  Synod  of  Mexico.  While  our  Presbytery  of 
Taumalipas  was  being  formed,  three  others  were  being 
developed  under  the  mission  of  the  Northern  Presbyterian 
church.  These  four  were  organized  into  a  Synod.  On 
that  day  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Mexico  took  her 
place  alongside  the  great  Presl)yterian  churches  of  the 
world.  In  1904,  Rev.  Leandro  Garza  Mora  was  sent  to 
Scotland  to  represent  the  Synod  in  the  World  Alliance  of 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  71 

the  Reformed  Churches  holding  the  Presbyterian  System. 
The  joy  in  our  own  ranks  was  unbounded.  Those  who 
had  been  connected  with  the  work  from  the  beginning,  had 
seen  the  one  member  grow  into  a  church,  the  church  into 
a  presbytery,  and  the  presbytery  into  a  Synod. 

The  weekly  paper  which  the  Northern  Presbyterian 
Church  had  been  publishing  for  many  years  became  the 
official  organ  of  the  Synod.  From  that  date,  our  students 
for  the  ministry  were  sent  to  the  Presbyterian  College 
and  Seminary  at  Coyoacan,  near  the  City  of  Mexico. 

The  Closing  of  a  Great  Life.  On  January  21,  1905, 
Dr.  Graybill  rose  early  and  was  apparently  in  perfect 
health.  After  breakfast,  and  family  worship,  he  went  into 
the  yard  to  see  about  some  work  he  was  doing.  Without 
a  moment  of  warning,  he  fell  to  the  ground  and  died 
almost  instantly.  His  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  cemetery 
of  Linares,  in  sight  of  the  noble  mountains  under  whose 
shadow  he  had  worked,  and  among  the  people  he  had  loved 
so  well.  The  funeral  services  were  conducted  by  Mexican 
ministers  whom  he  had  trained.  Protestants,  Catholics 
and  unbelievers  alike  came  to  pay  tribute  to  the  man  who 
had  commended  himself  to  them  as  a  friend  of  the  highest 
type. 

He  lived  among  a  fanatical  people  and  won  them.  He 
faced  the  dangers  that  constantly  beset  him  with  the  same 
courage  he  exhibited  while  a  soldier  following  Lee.  His 
genial  and  conciliatory  spirit  was  one  of  his  special 
equipments  for  work  among  the  warm-hearted  and  courte- 
ous Mexicans.  His  gifts  as  an  organizer  enabled  him 
promptly  to  gather  up  those  who  came  under  the  influence 
of  the  Gospel  and  to  organize  them  into  working  bands 
which  the  churches  of  the  presbytery  came  to  be. 


72  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

The  news  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Graybill  l^rought  sorrow 
to  multitudes  in  Mexico.  Telegrams  and  letters  of  sym- 
pathy and  appreciation  were  received  by  Mrs.  Graybill  and 
the  Mission. 

The  following  is  part  of  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Graybill  from 
the   Northern  Presbyterian   Mission : 

"We  desire  to  express  our  high  appreciation  of  the 
great  work  which  our  brother  accomplished  during  the 
more  than  thirty  years  of  his  missionary  labors,  and  the 
important  place  he  occupied  in  the  organization  of  our 
General  Synod,  and  the  unification  of  the  work  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  in  Mexico." 

The  following  tribute  was  sent  by  Don  Leandro,  who 
had  been  associated  with  him  so  closely  for  thirty  years : 

"Anthony  Thomas  Graybill  was  a  consecrated  mission- 
ary, even  to  sacrifices ;  noble  and  altruistic,  as  active  as 
the  waters  of  the  Gulf  stream,  affectionate,  just  and  holy 
as  his  Master. 

"For  me.  Dr.  Graybill  was  the  instrument  of  my  con- 
version :  for  him  I  studied,  for  him  I  was  ordained,  for 
him  I  have  worked  forty  years  in  the  ministry ;  all  that 
I  am,  all  that  I  know,  and  all  that  I  am  worth,  all  that 
I  do  and  will  do  for  God,  will  be  Dr.  Graybill  working 
in  me. 

"He  was  my  father  in  the  Gospel ;  he  was  my  father  in 
the  ministry,  and  for  this  reason  as  long  as  I  live  he  will 
have  a  very  sacred  place  in  my  soul  and  in  my  memory. 
With  his  sacred  memory  are  associated  all  the  great  in- 
terests of  mv  life,  of  mv  work,  and  of  my  eternal  salva- 
tion." 


PART  TWO 

THE  DAWN 

(Continued) 
Chapter  IV. 


"The  people  that  walked  in  darkness  have  seen  a  great 
light.  They  that  dwelt  in  the  land  of  the  shadow  of 
death,  upon  them  hath  the  light  shined." — Isaiah  9:  2. 

"To  the  missionary  laborer,  mastering  with  difficulty 
unknown  tongues,  surrounded  by  unfamiliar  arts,  toiling 
for  years  to  make  a  few  souls  know  something  of  Him 
who  taught  in  Palestine,  the  future  is  as  certain  as  if  he 
were  touching  it ;  and  that  future,  to  his  exulting  ex- 
pectation is  to  be  as  radiant  with  glory  as  the  sky  over 
Calvary  was  heavy  with  gloom.  .  .  He  expects  long 
toil  and  many  disasters,  and  spasms  of  fear  in  the  heart 
of  the  Church  But  he  looks,  as  surely  as  for  the  sunrise 
after  nights  of  tempests  and  of  lingering  dawn,  for  the 
ultimate  illumination  of  the  world  by  faith." 

Rev.  RiCHARn  S.  Storrs,  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 


Chapter  Four 

WORKING  TO  HASTEN  THE 
COMING  DAY 

I. 

1905-1919 

An  Awakened  Home  Church.  The  first  few  years 
of  the  twentieth  century  were  marked  by  renewed  mis- 
sionary activity  on  the  part  of  the  Southern  Presbyterian 
Church.  This  showed  itself  in  four  vital  movements : 
The  Forward  Movement,  led  by  Stuart,  Moffett,  and 
Preston ;  the  Student  Volunteer  Movement,  which  spread 
a  new  Missionary  impulse  among  our  college  students ; 
the  Laymen's  Missionary  Movement,  which  impelled  many 
men  to  captalize  for  God  their  personality, -business  train- 
ing, social  position  and  money ;  the  Woman's  Auxiliary, 
which  has  transformed  the  work  of  the  Church,  and  has 
made  such  wonderful  progress. 

A  Second  Generation  of  Missionaries.  One  of  the 
results  of  these  movements  was  the  reinforcing  of  the 
mission  of  Mexico,  which  had  dwindled  down  to  one  man 
and  four  women.  In  1906  Mrs.  J.  O.  Shelby  joined  the 
forces  at  Linares  and  the  Rev.  H.  L.  Ross  joined  the  forces 
at  Matamoros.  In  1907  Rev.  and  Mrs.  W,  A.  Ross  began 
work  in  Victoria.  Two  years  later  Miss  Alice  J.  Mc- 
Clelland took  charge  of  the  Girls'  school  at  Matamoros, 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  75 

and  Professor  and  Mrs.  R.  C.  Morrow  went  to  Monte- 
morelos.  In  1911  Miss  Elizabeth  McRae  went  to  Mexico, 
and  the  next  year  married  Rev.  H.  L.  Ross. 

II- 

The  first  formidable  undertaking  of  the  new  mission- 
aries is  the  learning  of  the  Spanish  language,  though  we 
do  not  believe  that  the  devil  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
making  of  the  Spanish  language,  as  he  is  said  to  have 
done  in  the  case  of  the  Chinese.  The  language  of  Mexico 
is  too  beautiful  to  be  the  handiwork  of  the  Satanic  Ma- 
jesty!   But  the  mastering  of  it  requires  patience  and  toil. 

Experience  has  shown  that  unless  the  foundamental 
principles  of  the  language  are  mastered  during  the  first 
two  or  three  years,  the  probabilities  are  that  the  missionary 
will  be  handicapped  during  his  entire  missionary  career. 

One  missionary,  blissfully  unconscious  of  the  similarity 
between  the  word  for  Pope  and  the  word  for  an  Irish 
potato,  preached  a  very  powerful  sermon  on  the  great 
calamity  which  had  come  to  Mexico  by  the  influence  of 
the  "potato"  who  has  his  seat  in  Rome! 

The  Mexicans  are  outwardly  more  polite  than  the  Amer- 
icans and  are  exceedingly  careful  not  to  wound  the 
strangers  within  their  gates.  But  their  emotions  are  some- 
times noticeable,  as  was  the  case  when  a  minister  solemnly 
exhorted  his  congregation  to  be  careful  in  the  use  of  the 
"Stockings  of  Grace."  which  had  been  given  for  our 
growth  in  the  Christian  life. 

The  women  missionaries  have  the  advantage  over  the 
men  in  acquiring  the  language  possibly  because  they  talk 


76  Sujirise  in  Aztec  Land 

more !  But  even  they  sometimes  make  mistakes.  One  of 
these  young  innocents  tokl  her  servant  to  "sHce  the 
Imtcher."  Another,  attempting  to  teach  a  Sunday  School 
class  after  only  four  months  of  language  study,  told  them 
that  when  Peter  stepped  out  of  the  hoat  and  tried  to  walk 
on  the  water,  "he  handed  Christ  a  plug  hat." 

In  this  study  of  the  language,  some  have  given  a  hetter 
account  of  themselves  than  others.  The  hest  results  have 
heen  ol)tained  hy  those  who  have  gone  right  into  the 
homes,  and  in  the  family  circle,  have  learned  the  language 
and  the  customs  of  the  people. 

New  Conditions.  It  is  hard  for  one  to  realize  that 
only  by  crossing  the  Rio  Grande,  there  should  be  such 
marked  dififerences  in  customs  and  ways  of  thinking.  Here 
are  some  of  the  things  that  at  once  attract  attention : 

The  language  we  leave  behind  is  English ;  the  one  we 
find  is  Spanish.  The  United  States  is  predominantly  Pro- 
testant, while  Mexico  is  Roman  Catholic.  In  courtship, 
the  all-important  thing  in  the  United  States  is  to  secure 
the  consent  of  the  young  women ;  in  Mexico,  it  is  to  secure 
the  consent  of  her  parents.  In  the  United  States,  the 
bride  provides  the  trousseau ;  in  Mexico  the  groom  must 
furnish  it.  In  the  United  States,  no  public  announcement 
is  made  by  the  government  officials  of  the  approaching 
marriage  and  a  license  is  required  ;  in  Mexico  a  public  an- 
nouncement must  be  made  eighteen  days  before  the  pro- 
posed marriage,  and  no  license  is  required.  In  the  United 
States,  divorces  are  secured  on  the  slightest  provocation; 
in  Mexico,  until  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  1917, 
no  divorces  were  granted,  and  even  now,  they  are  very 
difficult  to  get.     In  the  United  States,  a  person  introduc- 


Sujirisc  ill  Aztec  Land  77 

ing  two  other  i)ei-sons  to  each  other  announces  the  names 
of  both ;  in  Mexico,  when  two  persons  are  introduced,  each 
announces  his  own  name. 

One  is  constantly  im])ressed  in  Mexico  hy  the  Oriental 
aspect  of  things.  "The  domestic  animals,  the  utensils,  the 
pastoral  atmosphere  and  phraseology,  the  manner  of  build- 
ing houses,  stables,  granaries,  sheep-folds  and  the  like,  are 
all  so  similar  to  what  existed  in  Palestine  two  thousand 
years  ago  that  a  visit  to  Mexico  serves  as  an  instructive 
commentary  on  the  Bible."  Here  Abraham  literally  sends 
for  a  wife  for  his  son  Isaac.  Here  Rachel  literally  goes 
to  the  well  to  draw  water.  Here  the  friends  of  the 
paralytic  could  have  dug  up  the  roof  to  let  him  down  in 
front  of  Christ,  or  Peter  could  have  gone  up  to  the  house- 
top to  pray. 

Because  of  the  Mexican  formalities  in  greeting  friends, 
we  can,  after  living  thei'e  a  short  time,  understand  why 
Christ,  in  sending  out  his  disciples  on  an  evangelistic  tour, 
told  them  to  "Greet  no  man  by  the  way."  These  facts 
lend  weight  to  the  theory  that  the  original  Mexican  people 
came  from  some  Oriental  country. 

The  present  conditions  are  the  outgrowth  of  two  entirely 
separate  beginnings.  The  exodus  from  Europe  in  the  six- 
teenth and  seventeenth  centuries  was  a  religious  move- 
ment. Those  who  came  to  the  United  States  were  seek- 
ing a  new  land  where  they  might  be  free  to  worship  God 
as  they  chose.  They  brought  their  families  and  founded 
homes  that  have  been  the  liulwark  of  the  civilization  they 
established.  They  brought  the  Bible,  built  churches,  and 
wove  the  teachings  of  Jesus  into  the  warp  and  woof  of 
their  lives.     They  established  schools,  the  beginning  of 


78  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

free  institutions.  Among  them  brotherly  love  was  strong 
and  community  interest  paramount.  On  this  foundation 
they  wrought  out  a  commonwealth  where  liberty  was  su- 
preme and  Christianity  was  the  controlling  factor. 

In  Mexico,  the  case  was  entirely  different.  The  rush 
trom  Spain  was  prompted  chiefly  by  the  craving  for  gold 
And  adventure,  and  was  sanctioned  by  a  religion  of  showy 
form  and  relentless  force  in  which  gross  immorality  and 
merciless  cruelty  were  no  bar  to  orthodoxy.  They  did 
not  bring  their  wives  and  children,  and  cared  little  for  the 
rights  of  men  or  the  honor  of  woman.  They  debased  both 
the  Mexicans  and  themselves  by  forced  marriages  and 
slavery.  No  Bible  was  brought.  How  could  liberty  exist 
or  Christianity  grow  under  such  conditions? 

The  Mexican  people  are  beginning  to  recognize  the  real 
cause  of  the  difference  between  the  two  neighboring 
republics.  During  the  revolution,  at  a  public  meeting 
where  only  women  and  children  were  present,  an  intel- 
ligent woman  arose  and  called  attention  to  the  character 
of  the  religion  which  the  conquerors  had  given  Mexico, 
affirming  that  the  unhappy  condition  that  prevails  is  be- 
cause their  fathers  had  never  known  the  Gospel.  She 
was  followed  by  a  young  girl  from  one  of  our  schools  who 
told  in  beautiful  Spanish  the  story  of  the  Pilgrim  fathers, 
affirming  that  the  greatness  of  the  United  States  is  due 
to  the  Bible. 

III. 

A  Courteous  People.  Politeness  in  Mexico  is  so  uni- 
versal that  the  occasional  lack  of  it  gives  the  sensation  of 
surprise.     The  Spanish  language  is  rich  in  pretty  phrases 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  79 

and  everyone  uses  them.  Toward  women,  we  are  accus- 
tomed everywhere  to  see  a  display  of  politeness.  But  in 
Mexico,  men  in  all  classes  are  polite  to  one  another.  We 
hear  a  peon,  bent  doul)le  under  a  heavy  load,  say  "with 
your  permission,"  as  he  passes  in  front  of  another  of 
his  class. 

The  observance  of  the  rules  of  etiquette  among  children 
is  astonishing !  Three  lads  on  their  way  from  school  enter 
a  street  car.  Leaving  the  car  after  a  short  distance,  they 
walk  half  its  length  to  shake  hands  with  a  stranger  just 
because  he  smiled  at  them  as  they  came  in.  We  have 
experienced  that  delightful  sensation.  But  the  story  of 
the  Mexican  children  is  a  chapter  in  itself. 

The  house  of  the  Mexican  is  yours  when  you  enter  and 
anything  you  admire  in  the  house  is  quickly  offered.  In 
1921,  an  American  woman,  who  was  spending  a  few 
weeks  in  Mexico,  in  her  great  enthusiasm  was  admiring 
some  beautiful  pieces  of  pottery  in  the  home  where  she 
had  been  invited.  She  was  told  that  they  were  hers,  and 
not  knowing  the  custom,  she  accepted  these  rare  articles. 
In  so  doing  she  herself  was  guilty  of  great  impoliteness. 

People  tell  us  the  Mexicans  are  all  'lazy."  That  is  not 
true.  Many  are  extremely  industrious,  and  work  as  hard 
and  as  long  as  is  possible.  But  there  does  prevail  among 
all  classes  a  leisureliness  in  everything  they  do.  The  un- 
finished state  of  everything  in  the  country  reveals  this 
characteristic  sometimes  in  an  exasperating  way.  This 
apparent  indolence  in  the  poorer  classes,  ignoring  the  in- 
fluence of  the  climate,  is  due  to  the  fact  that  they  are 
underfed.  Also,  the  oppression  of  centuries  has  stunted 
any  ambitions  for  getting  things  done. 


80  Sunrise  in  Azicc  Land 

Interesting  Qualities.  The  Mexican's  love  of  free- 
dom has  been  manifested  in  his  persistent  struggle  for  it. 
In  common  with  most  men,  he  has  a  stubl)orn  hatred  for 
injustice.  But  his  charm  lies  in  his  tender  heart  and 
sympathetic  nature.  His  hospitality  has  no  bounds.  The 
poorest  always  have  room  for  one  more.  Beggars  are 
everywhere  and  receive  sympathetic  and  substantial  at- 
tention. 

A  "Fiesta"  is  a  good  place  to  study  the  people.  The 
fiesta  may  be  a  formal  reception,  a  school  entertainment, 
a  literary  program,  a  party,  a  picnic;  a  Ijanquet,  the  4th 
of  July  (more  accurately,  16th  of  Septeml)er),  a  Saint's 
Day  Celebration,  Christmas,  or  anything  which  brings 
people  together. 

At  the  fiesta,  we  are  face  to  face  with  the  Mexican  in 
his  happiest  mood.  One  of  the  most  delightful  experiences 
awaiting  the  new  missionary  is  his  first  fiesta,  where  he 
gets  an  insight  into  some  of  the  most  charming  qualities 
of  the  people. 

Young  people  who  go  to  the  fiestas  must  be  chaperoned. 
So,  as  the  babies  can't  be  left  at  home  alone,  the  salon 
l)ecomes  a  rendezvous  for  all  ages.  Everything  is  done  in 
decency  and  in  order,  all  the  girls  lining  up  on  one  side 
of  the  room  and  the  young  men  on  the  opposite  side.  The 
games  are  often  hilarious,  always  clever  and  amusing. 

In  recent  years,  the  tenderness  of  the  Mexican  heart 
has  been  revealed  in  a  new  way  in  the  celebration  of 
Mother's  Day.  We  wonder  if  any  country  can  approach 
them  in  this.  The  Protestants  led  the  way,  but  it  soon 
spread  over  the  whole  nation.  It  fits  in  exactly  with 
Mexican  sentiment.     In  the  Protestant  churches,  two  ser- 


•  Sunrise  in  Actcc  Land  81 

vices  are  dedicated  to  Mother.  The  children  at  the  Sun- 
day School  hour  pay  trihute  to  their  mothers,  who  are 
seated  together  on  the  front  seats.  (The  fathers  sit 
further  l)ack  and  try  to  keep  the  halnes  quiet.)  At  the 
church  services,  a  sermon  is  dedicated  to  the  place  of 
mother  in  the  home  and  in  the  national  life.  During 
Mother's  Week,  clubs  and  organizations  of  all  kinds  have 
celebrations.     Even  the  Catholic  Church  has  endorsed  it. 

A  Changing  Caste-System.  While  hospitality,  polite- 
ness and  warm-heartedness  are  characteristic  of  all  Mexi- 
cans, there  are  decided  class  distinctions.  These  distinc- 
tions have  received  a  great  shock  in  the  recent  revolutions, 
but  conditions  which  have  existed  for  centuries  do  not 
easily  disappear.  This  class  distinction  is  indicated  in 
several  ways.  From  the  Paris  styles  of  the  upper  classes 
there  is  a  graduation  in  the  quality  of  clothing,  down 
through  the  less  pretentious  attire  of  the  middle  class  to 
the  flowing  white  pantaloons  of  the  poor. 

Education  has  made  a  great  distinction.  For  genera- 
tions, the  children  of  the  upper  classes  studied  in  Europe 
or  in  the  United  States  or  in  private  schools  in  Mexico. 
The  middle  class  were  given  some  education  by  special 
provision  of  the  crown  or  viceroys,  but  the  help  given 
was  insignificant.  This  fact  accounts  for  the  middle  class 
being  so  very  small,  and  for  their  unhappy  condition. 
This  class  was  made  up  of  the  Meztisos  (mixed  blood) 
and  some  of  the  Indians  who,  in  spite  of  unfavorable  con- 
ditions, had  risen  above  their  environments. 

The  lowest  class,  made  up  of  the  Indians  and  the  most 
unfortunate   among   the    Meztisos,    was    for   generations 


82  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  • 

left  to  its  own  devices.  They  were  taught  nothing  but 
the  rudiments  of  a  superstitious  rehgion  and  the  rules  of 
politeness. 

The  high  class  Mexicans  are  proud,  sensitive,  artistic, 
and  cultured.  The  small  middle  class  is  industrious, 
but  improvident,  more  or  less  educated,  susceptible  to 
good  as  well  as  bad  influences.  The  lower  classes  are 
ignorant,  superstitious,  patient  toilers,  loyal  to  superiors. 
These,  in  general  terms,  were  the  class  distinctions  which 
we  found  when  we  first  came  to  Mexico. 

But  now  there  is  a  rapid  shifting  of  the  social  system 
brought  about  by  commercial  development,  the  revolutions, 
and  by  Protestant  Missions.  All  are  proud  to  be  called 
Mexicans,  and  while  the  predominating  sfrain  in  the 
upper  classes  is  foreign  blood,  still  some  are  of  pure  Indian 
stock.  The  middle  class  is  still  predominantly  Meztisos, 
and  yet  there  are  many  pure  blood  Indians  who  are  in- 
cluded in  this  group  of  Mexicans  who  are  rising  by  their 
own  efforts. 

Some  of  the  Weaknesses.  The  lack  of  ability  for 
self-government  is  one  of  the  marked  weaknesses  of  the 
Mexican  people.  Their  sad  history  makes  this  evident. 
Before  we  condemn,  we  should  study  their  history.  Cen- 
turies of  oppression  account  for  this  characteristic.  "It  is 
liberty  alone  which  fits  for  liberty."  Only  the  exercises 
of  self-government,  prepares  for  a  full  exerciser  of  self- 
government.  Like  all  people  recently  freed  from  oppres- 
sive conditions,  they  are  prone  to  indulge  in  exaggerated 
individualism.  "They  are  self-assertive,  sensitive  as  to 
personal  honor,  watchful  of  rights,  and  ambitious  of 
leadership."  Our  churches  have  suffered  from  this  lack 
of  ability  for  self-government  and  any  progress  made  in 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 


83 


this  direction  is  a  real  gain.  The  Protestant  church  is 
going  to  play  a  leading  part  in  developing  the  capacity 
of  self-government. 

Another  weakness  of  the  Mexican  people,  which  has  di- 
rectly eflfected  our  Protestant  movement,  is  the  lack  of 
initiative.  One  of  our  native  ministers  once  said :  "We 
may  be  more  courteous  than  you  Americans,  but  you  are 
far  ahead  of  us  in  the  spirit  of  initiative  and  of  industrial 
activity."  He  had  great  admiration  for  American  enter- 
prise and  energy. 

Just  as  their  arid  sections  respond  at  once  to  irrigation, 
"blossoming  like  the  rose,"  so  surely  are  the  people  re- 
sponding to  the  new  influences,  and  the  day  is  coming 
when  Mexico  will  be  a  nation  of  up-standing,  forward- 
looking  men  and  women  who  can  themselves  develop 
their  marvelous  resources  and  lift  their  nation  to  an  honor- 
able place  among  the  nations  of  the  world. 


Matamoros   Church 


84  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

IV. 

The  Mexican  Church  in  Action 

A  Critical  Time.  Those  who  did  more  than  all  the 
others  to  hold  the  work  steady  in  its  forward  march  were 
the  Mexican  ministers  and  elders  and  teachers  who  were 
trained  during  the  years.  Even  if  all  the  missionaries 
had  left  them  and  no  new  ones  had  replaced  them  the 
presbytery  would  have  continued  its  work.  God  had  raised 
up  prophets  who  were  fearlessly  attacking  the  ])roblems 
of  the  Mexican  Church.  It  was  everywhere  recognized 
that  not  argument  only,  but  prayer,  love,  and  the  truth 
from  God  lived  in  the  daily  life  would  make  the  Gospel 
attractive  to  the  Mexican  people. 

The  Women.  The  Grace  of  God  beautifies  the  char- 
acter of  the  women  of  Mexico.  They  are  naturally  noble 
through  adversity.  The  stories  of  Esther  and  Ruth, 
Mary  and  Martha,  Dorcas  and  Lydia,  have  fallen  like 
good  seed  on  prepared  soil. 

Miss  Lee  tells  this  story  of  Celestina  Victoria  whom 
she  knew :  "When  I  first  went  to  Victoria,  I  knew  Celes- 
tina. She  was  the  eldest  of  a  large  family.  Child  as  she 
was,  she  always  seemed  to  be  the  real  head  of  that  family. 
Her  devotion  to  each  one  was  very  great,  but  especially 
did  she  watch  over  the  two  youngest  with  a  determination 
that  they  should  have  opportunities  that  she  had  never 
had.     For  them,  she  made  every  sacrifice. 

"As  the  years  went  on,  and  she  saw  them  pass  to  the 
high  school,  her  pride  was  great.  Her  sister's  framed 
diploma  was  her  greatest  treasure.  That  sister  is  now  a 
teacher,  and  she  owes  all  that  she  has,  or  can  ever  have, 


Sunrise  ill  Aztec  Land  85 

to  the  devotion  of  Celestina.     The  young  brother  too  will 
soon  be  independent. 

"She  was  in  my  Sunday  School  class  and  my  girls' 
semi-weekly  Biljle  class  for  years.  How  she  studied ! 
With  her  Bible  in  hand,  she  came  to  class,  and  few  in- 
deed were  the  questions  she  could  not  answer.  Her  enjoy- 
ment of  this  study  was  great  and  her  progress  remark- 
able. How  she  loved  her  church !  Seldom  was  she  ever 
absent.  I  can  think  of  no  department  in  church  or  in 
Sunday  School  in  which  she  was  not  ready  or  willing 
for  any  sacrifice." 

In  the  radiant  face  of  Celestina.  we  have  seen  the  trans- 
forming power  of  Christ.  Her  wedding  day  came.  Her 
choice  seemed  to  be  a  wise  one  and  her  friends  looked 
forward  to  years  of  happiness  for  her.  This  was  not  to 
be.  In  the  birth  of  her  first-born,  God  took  her.  She 
gave  her  life  that  another  might  have  life.  It  was  typical 
of  her. 

A  beautiful  custom  of  our  Mexican  Christians  in  the 
placing  of  Scripture  texts  on  funeral  notices.  These  were 
appropriately  chosen  for  Celestina:  "The  Lord  gave  and 
the  Lord  has  taken  away."  "One  thing  have  I  desired  of 
the  Lord  that  I  may  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord." 
"I  am  the  Resurrection  and  the  Life." 

Another  example  of  the  no]:)ility  of  Mexican  woman- 
hood was  Dona  Carmen,  a  pastor's  wife.  She  was  the 
true  embodiment  of  Christian  culture.  Through  her  gen- 
tle tact,  her  husband  was  able  to  do  a  remarkable  work. 
He  told  us  how  he  met  her.  His  friends  had  been  telling 
him  that  he  should  get  married,  but  he  was  not  thinking 
of  such  a  thing.     But  one  day  something  happened.     He 


86  Su)irise  in  Aztec  Land 

was  on  a  preaching  tour  out  in  the  country,  and  while  be- 
ing entertained  in  one  of  the  homes  he  was  attracted  to 
the  young  lady  serving  the  afternoon  refreshments.  It 
was  a  case  of  love  at  first  sight.  Her  grace  and  charm 
won  him. 

It  was  in  her  own  home  that  we  came  under  the  in- 
fluence of  this  same  graciousness  soon  after  we  went  to 
Mexico.  She  received  us  courteously,  taking  special  care 
to  put  at  ease  the  new  missionary  while  she  served  as  in- 
terpreter. Thus  for  years  she  had  been  making  her  home 
the  center  of  purity,  strength,  and  encouragement  for  the 
members  of  the  churches,  and  she  had  been  content  to  live 
on  a  meager  salary.  Cheerful,  resourceful,  gracious,  she 
made  her  life  a  power  among  the  people  of  the  communi- 
ties where  she  lived. 

"Of  Such  is  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven."  Among  the 
masses  of  the  people,  the  unfolding  life  is  dwarfed  by 
heavy  cares  that  are  borne  almost  from  infancy.  It  is 
hard  to  associate  freedom,  activity,  play,  and  song  with 
the  children  of  Mexico.  There  is  an  undertone  of  serious- 
ness and  sadness  which  harks  back  to  the  days  of  oppres- 
sion when  the  little  ones  carried  heavy  burdens.  The 
burdens  have  not  yet  been  lifted  from  their  shoulders. 

Our  Church  in  Mexico  heard  the  Master  say,  "He  that 
receiveth  one  of  these  little  ones  in  my  name  receiveth 
me,"  and  it  has  attempted  to  give  back  to  the  children 
their  birthright.  It  will  be  remembered  that  Mrs.  Gray- 
bill  began  a  school  for  the  children  soon  after  she  reached 
Mexico.  Some  of  our  best  investments  have  been  made 
in  day  schools. 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  ^7 

Winning  the  Men.  The  men  in  Mexico  are  the  last 
to  be  reached  with  the  Gospel.  As  in  all  Catholic  lands, 
there  is  indifference  to  the  Church  and  to  all  religion. 
During  the  revolution  a  Mexican  gentleman  from  a  city 
in  our  field  was  in  the  United  States  for  some  months. 
When  he  returned  to  Mexico,  he  told  his  friends  that  the 
most  remarkable  thing  he  noticed  about  the  men  of  the 
United  States  was  that  they  went  to  Church  and  that 
religion  was  a  daily  business  with  them  and  was  taken 
into  account  in  the  life  relations. 

Don  Amado.  In  one  of  our  churches  there  was  an  old 
Christian,  Don  Ignacio,  who,  in  his  last  years,  spent  most 
of  his  time  in  speaking  the  Word  to  all  who  came  his  way. 
He  would  choose  out  his  men  and  made  special  efforts  to 
win  them.  He  had  a  friend  named  Amado.  He  began 
to  invite  Amado  to  church,  but  the  invitations  were 
scorned.  Don  Amado  had  another  way  of  spending  his 
Sundays.  He  went  to  the  Cock-pit.  Finally,  the  Evan- 
gelist of  the  presbytery  came  to  the  church  to  hold  a  meet- 
ing, and  Don  Ignacio  became  more  anxious  for  his  friend 
and  more  insistent  that  he  attend  the  services.  Amado  had 
little  interest  in  the  Gospel,  but  to  gratify  his  friend,  one 
night  he  went.  From  the  very  first  word  of  the  sermon, 
he  was  intensely  interested,  leaning  forward  in  his  seat. 
When  the  invitation  was  made  to  all  those  who  desired 
to  accept  Christ,  Don  Amado  was  the  first  to  respond, 
and  he  did  it  audibly.  His  wife  had  secretly  attended 
some  services,  and  was  ready  to  go  with  him  into  the 
church. 

She  told  us  that  she  knew  the  test  would  come  on  Sun- 
day. If  he  could  resist  his  passion  for  cock-fighting,  she 
would  know  that  he  was  a  Christian.     His  fine  rooster 


88  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

was  tied  by  his  door,  ready  for  a  challenge.  The  first 
Sunday  was  easy,  since  the  enthusiasm  of  the  meetings 
had  not  waned.  During  the  following  week,  the  cock  was 
disposed  of.  Pretty  soon,  Amado  concluded  that  his  other 
cocks  were  a  temptation  to  evil,  so  he  disposed  of  them  all. 
Both  Don  Amado  and  his  wife  were  received  into  the 
church  and  have  been  most  faithful.  He  was  made  a 
deacon  after  a  few  years,  and  is  now  an  elder,  and  has 
proved  himself  worthy  of  the  honor. 

Don  Bernabe.  In  his  early  days,  Don  Bernabe  was 
systematically,  openly,  and  cheerfully  bad.  He  gambled, 
stole,  lied,  drank  and,  above  all,  he  dearly  loved  a  cock- 
fight. People  believed  Don  Bernabe  had  a  soul,  because 
everybody  has  a  soul,  but  where  was  it?  It  was  sought 
after,  but  never  a  glimpse  of  it  was  shown.  Then  some- 
thing happened.  He  came  under  the  influence  of  the 
Gospel,  and  at  last  a  change  came,  slight  indeed  at  first, 
but  growing  in  force  continually  until  the  man  became 
completely  new.  He  pored  over  the  Word,  and  being  thus 
in  His  presence,  the  harsh  hands  Ijecame  gentle  and  the 
shrewdness  of  evil  days  turned  into  a  remarkable  thought- 
fulness  and  resourcefulness  in  finding  ways  of  service. 
We  have  seen  this  man,  in  whom  the  Lord  Jesus  wrought 
a  miracle,  sitting  at  his  shoemaker's  bench  with  his  face 
shining  with  the  grace  of  God.  We  have  seen  him,  time 
and  again,  leading  the  service  in  the  absence  of  the  pastor. 
We  have  counted  ourselves  happy  to  take  the  communion 
from  his  hands,  as  he,  in  the  capacity  of  elder,  ministered 
in  holy  things. 

The  Presbytery  of  Taumalipas.  This  group  of 
Christ's  servants  were  working  out  principles  and  having 


Su)irisc  in  Aztec  Land  89 

a  greater  share  than  they  knew  in  the  redemption  of 
Mexico.  There  are  some  things  that  are  worthy  of  note 
in  the  working  of  this  presbytery : 

( 1 )  There  was  noted  a  consciousness  of  power  in  its 
self-governing  body,  an  independent  vigor  which  was 
wholesome  and  argued  well  for  the  Mexican  church  of  the 
future.  Here  we  see  again  the  boldness  and  far-sighted- 
ness of  Dr.  Graybill.  A  man  of  smaller  caliber  would 
have  trained  the  Mexican  church  to  leave  the  government 
in  the  hands  of  the  Mission. 

(2)  A  new  emphasis  was  placed  on  evangelism.  It  was 
during  1909  that  there  was  launched  the  campaign  for  a 
million  souls  for  Christ  to  be  presented  to  their  country  at 
the  Centennial  celebration  of  their  cry  for  independence. 
Our  church  shared  in  this  enthusiasm,  and  in  the  Presby- 
tery it  took  definite  form  when  a  special  evangelist  was  ap- 
pointed for  his  whole  time,  Rev.  Leandro  Garza  Mora. 
During  those  years,  there  were  increased  ingatherings  in 
our  churches. 

(3)  A  special  emphasis  was  laid  on  the  work  of  the 
laymen.  This  was  a  reflex  from  the  renewed  activity  on 
the  part  of  the  Laymen  in  the  United  States.  There  was 
organized  an  Elders'  and  Deacons'  Conference  which  met 
each  year  in  connection  with  the  meeting  of  presbytery, 
in  which  the  laymen  took  a  leading  part.  This  had  a 
wholesome  eflfect  on  the  whole  presbytery,  especially  in  the 
part  it  played  in  the  training  of  the  officers  of  the  church. 

(4)  The  Christianity  of  the  Presbytery  was  showing 
itself  to  be  a  social  leavener,  and  there  was  a  growing 
passion  to  serve  the  people.  Two  members  of  the  presby- 
tery after  the  floods  in  Northern  Mexico  took  large  quan- 


90  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

titles  of  blankets  and  clothing  for  the  sufferers  in  the 
mountain  section  of  our  field.  Meniljers  of  this  presby- 
tery, also,  during  the  revolutions,  took  food  and  clothing 
to  the  sufferers  in  the  interior  of  Mexico. 

(5)  Emphasis  was  placed  on  the  great  principle  of 
stewardship  of  life  and  possessions.  This  bore  rich  fruit. 
A  Tenth  Legion  was  formed  in  the  Presbytery  with  75 
members.  There  was  a  growing  comprehension  of  the 
great  truth  "Ye  are  not  your  own  for  ye  are  bought  with 
a  price." 

Building  Churches.  The  Catholic  Church  has  made 
Mexico  a  land  of  cathedrals  and  of  wretched  homes. 
Many  of  the  churches  are  elaborately  and  even  gaudily 
decorated.  The  worship  is  outwardly  elaborate  in  its 
ceremonies  and  ritual.  Inwardly  it  is  barren,  leaving  the 
people  with  their  heart-yearnings  for  God  unsatisfied. 
These  churches  are  among  the  most  striking  landmarks  of 
the  country,  but  the  Mexican  people  have  never  gotten 
value  received  for  the  wealth  of  money  and  human  labor 
that  was  given  for  their  erection. 

The  Protestants  have  never  attempted  Cathedrals  nor 
even  large  churches  in  Mexico.  The  demands  have  been 
for  the  parish  church  and  chapel,  and  in  their  construc- 
tion the  needs  of  the  people  and  their  financial  ability  have 
been  kept  in  mind.  It  will  be  admitted  by  all,  that,  except 
in  a  very  few  cases,  the  Protestants  in  building  their 
churches  have  not  kept  in  mind  the  artistic  nature  of  the 
Mexican  people.  Their  churches  have  not  been  such  as 
to  appeal  to  them.  We  condemn  the  Catholic  church  for 
their  outward  elaborateness,  and  yet,  beyond  a  doubt,  the 
Protestants  have  erred  on  the  other  side.     A  reform  in 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 


91 


this  is  coming  along  with  the  general  improvement  of  the 
work. 

We  have  already  witnessed  the  building  and  dedication 
of  the  first  church  in  Matamoros.  This  was  followed  by 
others  in  Jimenez,  Victoria,  Linares,  and  Montemorelos, 
the  people  themselves  taking  a  large  share  in  their  erection. 
During  the  years  we  are  now  studying,  churches  and 
chapels  were  built  in  San  Benito,  Mercedes,  Carricitos, 
Harlingen,  Brownsvile,  La  Ascencion,  and  San  Juan. 

V. 

Outposts  and  Itinerations 

An  Important  Part  of  the  Task.  Itinerating  work 
is  an  important  factor  in  the  evangelization  of  Mexico. 
Christ  Himself  signally  honored  this  form  of  missionary 


Outposts  and  Itineration 


92  Sinirisc  in  Aztec  Land 

endeavor,  devoting  no  small  part  of  his  ministry  to 
itinerating.  So  did  Paul  and  his  associates.  Mr.  Grayl)ill 
had  been  a  master  in  tliis  kind  of  work.  Over  i)lain  and 
mountain  he  had  led  the  way.  The  cities  in  our  section  of 
Mexico  had  l)een  occupied,  and  in  many  of  the  smaller 
towns  work  had  l)een  begun.  X'illages  and  ranches  had 
l)een  visited. 

The  ranch  life  in  iMexico  is  one  chief  characteristic  of 
the  country ;  the  people  live  around  a  spring.  Their  farms 
may  be  from  one  to  three  niiles  away,  l)ut  the  homes 
center  around  the  spring,  a  factor  of  much  importance  in 
the  semi-arid  part  of  Mexico.  This  accounts  for  one 
form  of  missionary  endeavor. 

Here  the  Mexicans  can  be  seen  at  their  liest,  and  time 
is  given  to  study  them  in  the  quiet  life  of  the  village  and 
mountain  gorge.  Here  we  receive  some  of  our  best  re- 
turns. From  these,  we  get  our  students  for  the  ministry, 
and  the  churches  in  the  larger  centers  are  replenished. 
Heere  we  get  very  near  to  the  Mexican  heart. 

Better  than  Hotels.  As  the  older  Mexican  min- 
isters were  in  settled  pastorates,  it  fell  to  the  missionaries 
and  the  younger  ministers  and  students  to  care  for  the 
(jut-posts.  One  day,  when  one  of  the  missionaries  was 
making  preparation  for  one  of  these  trips,  his  wife,  think- 
ing that  she  would  like  to  go,  too,  asked  if  there  were 
hotels  in  these  places.  "No,"  he  replied,  "there  are  no 
hotels,  but  there  are  warm  hearts." 

Some  of  these  warm  hearts  were  found  in  a  ranch  about 
fifty  miles  below  Linares,  where  lived  Don  Francisco  and 
Dona  Lola.  They  had  gathered  around  them  almost  all  of 
their  children  and  grandchildren.     The  missionary  was 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  93 

always  met  at  the  station,  three  or  four  miles  from  the 
ranch,  with  greetings  from  Don  Francisco  and  with  a 
horse.  In  this  ranch,  the  very  atmosphere  of  the  Old 
Testament  pervades.  The  pastoral  life,  the  tools  for  farm- 
ing, the  dress,  the  patriarchal  family  organization  still 
exists.  Don  Francisco  might  be  Abraham  and  Dona  Lola 
might  be  Sarah,  as  they  send  to  the  flock  to  get  a  kid  for 
the  stranger  within  their  gates.  No  warmer  hearts  are 
found.  The  "Big  House"  is  the  center  of  everything. 
It  is  the  center  of  the  community,  and  here  the  services 
are  held.  For  years  this  ranch  has  been  the  center  of  the 
Protestant  work  in  all  that  section,  and  this  old  couple 
living  there  have  trained  their  children  in  the  "faith  of 
our  fathers." 

Weddings  in  any  country  bring  us  close  to  the  hearts 
of  the  people.  "Everybody  loves  a  lover."  In  Mexico, 
the  wedding  day  is  the  culmination  of  a  long  period  of 
plans  and  negotiations.  To  begin  with  there  is  the  consent 
of  at  least  two  persons  to  be  gained,  to  say  nothing  of 
gaining  the  heart  of  the  Senorita.  In  this  process,  if 
Cupid  were  not  such  a  plucky  little  cherub,  or  if  he  did  not 
have  the  blue  sky,  the  abundance  of  sunshine  and  flowers, 
and  the  eternal  spring  in  his  favor,  he  would  give  up  in 
the  struggle. 

The  lover  begins  his  attacks  on  the  heart  of  his  lady- 
love b}'  amorous  glances  and  covert  smiles  as  they  meet 
and  re-meet  on  the  rovmds  of  the  public  plaza,  where 
everybody  goes  to  hear  the  music.  He  continues  the  at- 
tack by  "playing  bear,"  which  means  that  the  lover  stations 
himself  at  his  lady's  window  in  the  evening  and  talks  to 
her  through  the  bars,  or  chooses  to  pay  his  addresses 
through  the  medium  of  song,  accompanied  by  a  guitar. 


94  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

He  knows  that  his  love  is  being  requited  when  a  rose  is 
dropped  in  response  to  the  music. 

Then  he  can  begin  besieging  the  heart  of  the  father  and 
mother  by  sending  a  comi)any  of  his  intimate  friends  to 
the  parents  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  their  consent. 
Cupid  now  begins  to  show  of  what  stuff  he  is  made.  The 
father  never  shows  any  eagerness  in  giving  his  consent. 
The  youth  must  subject  himself  to  the  wishes  and  whims 
of  the  parents.  He  may  wait  two  weeks,  a  month,  two 
months,  or  longer.  This  form  of  torture  has  been  known 
to  be  extended  over  two  years. 

When  consent  is  given,  the  next  step  is  the  presentation, 
which  usually  comes  about  eighteen  days  before  the  mar- 
riage, and  which  consists  in  an  appearance  before  the  civil 
judge  of  the  contracting  parties  with  witnesses  and  their 
friends,  at  which  time  they  declare  their  intention  to  be 
married.  This  is  similar  to  the  old  custom  of  announcing 
the  "banns,"  and  is  done  for  the  protection  of  both  parties. 

One  of  the  missionaries  tells  of  a  wedding  in  one  of  the 
out-stations.  The  father  of  the  bride  wrote  to  the  mis- 
sionary asking  him  to  perform  the  religious  ceremony. 
The  missionary  replied  that  he  would  be  glad  to  so  so,  on 
the  condition  that  there  would  not  be  the  customary 
dance.  The  father  replied  that  for  two  reasons  there 
would  be  no  dance.  He  was  a  Protestant,  and  the  wedding 
day  was  Sunday.  The  minister  and  the  civil  judge  traveled 
the  thirty  miles  together  to  reach  the  home.  Two  cere- 
monies were  to  be  performed,  a  civil  one.  which  is  the 
only  one  recognized  Ijy  the  law,  and  a  religious  one. 

Upon  reaching  the  home  about  noon  they  found  that  the 
guests  had  gathered  in  great  numbers.    All  sizes  and  ages 


Sunrise  in  Astcc  Land  95 

were  represented.  Some  had  walked  and  some  had  come 
on  horseback  or  on  burros.  Others  came  in  ox-carts, 
wagons  or  carriages.  The  friends  and  relatives  had  sus- 
pended business  to  attend  the  wedding.  The  father  of 
the  groom  had  built  the  home  for  his  son,  but  had  calmly 
brought  his  family  there  and  taken  up  his  abode.  The 
small  plot  of  ground  on  which  his  booth  of  a  few  days 
stood  was  a  sort  of  recompense  for  his  lavish  outlay  of 
money.  In  Mexico,  the  groom  or  his  father  must  buy  the 
trousseau,  furnish  the  new  home,  and  provide  the  wedding 
feast.  A  sacrificing  brother  of  the  groom  had  spent  the 
entire  preceding  week  securing  things' to  eat. 

The  bride  was  dressed  in  regulation  style  with  the  veil 
and  orange  blossoms.  She  appeared  twice  in  the  full  at- 
tire, once  for  the  civil  marriage,  which  came  first,  and 
again  in  the  evening  for  the  religious  ceremony.  The 
civil  ceremony  was  long  enough  to  satisfy  the  most  exact- 
ing. The  judge  with  all  the  proverbial  solemnity  of  a 
judge,  plus  that  of  a  Mexican  judge,  rehearsed  all  the  acts 
on  the  statute  books  regarding  matrimony,  the  duties  of 
the  husband  and  wife,  the  sanctity  of  marriage  and  its 
binding  nature. 

There  was  no  dance,  but  it  did  not  seem  to  them  that  a 
part  of  the  Sunday  afternoon  spent  in  diversions  of  an 
innocent  nature  was  not  in  accord  with  the  best  teachings 
of  Christianity.  When  the  time  came  for  music,  as  it  al- 
ways does,  a  religious  turn  was  given  to  the  gathering  by 
the  introduction  of  hymns. 

Finding  Diamonds.  Many  years  ago  two  of  our  mis- 
sionaries, on  an  extended  tour,  came  to  Poterrilos  where 
no  missionary  had  ever  stopped.     The  wayside  innkeeper, 


96  Sunrise  iii  Aztec  Land 

whose  limited  contact  with  Americans  had  led  !iim  to  l)e- 
hve  that  all  were  gold  prospectors  or  miners,  asked  if  they 
were  looking  for  mines.  They  told  him  that  they  were 
looking  for  pearls  and  diamonds.  They  found  what  they 
were  searching  for. 

Sometime  after  in  this  same  town,  a  missionary  was 
rather  nonplused  at  a  meeting.  The  service  had  continued 
until  late  in  the  night.  According  to  all  the  rules,  it  was 
time  to  close.  The  henediction  was  pronounced,  hut  the 
people  did  not  leave.  The  singing  was  taken  up  again, 
and  after  another  hour,  a  second  attempt  was  made  to  let 
the  people  know  it  was  time  to  go  home.  But  still  they 
did  not  leave.  The  situation  hecame  emharrassing  and  in 
his  desperation  the  missionary  said,  "What  is  the  chief  end 
of  man?"  It  seemed  that  every  child  in  the  house  knew 
the  answer.  Other  questions  followed  with  a  like  result. 
It  was  evident  that  good  work  had  heen  dt)ne  there.  An- 
nouncement was  made  that  all  who  would  learn  the  cate- 
chism perfectly  would  receive  a  Bible,  and  have  their 
names  published  in  the  Christian  Observer.  It  was  a  per- 
fectly orthodox  way  of  telling  them  to  go  home  and  study. 
The  challenge  was  met  with  delightful  enthusiasm. 

For  the  next  few  months,  the  time  of  the  missionary  on 
his  visit  to  Poterrillos  was  taken  up  hearing  recitations  of 
the  catechism.  One  girl  recited  the  whole  of  it  perfectly 
in  twenty  minutes.  That  was  a  happy  day  for  the  children 
when  we  took  them  their  diplomas  sent  by  the  Christian 
Observer,  and  showed  them  their  names  on  the  Honor 
Roll.  Now  those  boys  and  girls  are  full  grown.  Three 
of  the  girls  have  graduated  from  Normal  School.  Three 
of  the  boys  were  among  the  first  students  of  the  Graybill 
Memorial    School    and    since    then    have    "made    good." 


Sunrise  in  A:;tcc  Land  97. 

Others,  who  did  not  attend  the  higher  schools,  have  taken 
their  places  as  leaders  ip  the  church  Hfe  of  the  community. 
The  diamonds  have  heen  polished  and  are  shining  for  God. 

Mr.  H.  L.  Ross  found  one  of  these  unpolished  gems 
soon  after  he  began  work  in  the  ranches.  Pedro  lived 
with  his  uncle  on  a  small  ranch.  He  then  went  to  the 
school  in  Matamoras,  helping  to  pay  his  expenses  by  work- 
ing at  the  school.  Later  he  was  offered  a  scholarship  in  a 
Protestant  school  four  or  five  hundred  miles  in  the  interior 
of  Mexico.  His  uncle  was  poor,  and  it  was  hard  to  get 
the  money  to  pay  for  the  railroad  ticket,  but  Pedro  decided 
that  if  he  could  not  get  the  money  he  would  walk.  When 
his  aunt  suggested  to  him  that  he  might  get  sick  and  die 
far  away  from  home,  he  said  that  he  would  die  anyway, 
and  he  might  as  well  die  in  school  as  any  place.  That  was 
in  1907.  In  1922  Pedro  is  pastor  of  a  self-supporting 
church. 

A  Study  in  Contrasts.  Visits  to  the  out-posts  fur- 
nish unequalled  opportunity  to  study  the  contrast  between 
a  Protestant  and  a  non-Protestant  community.  Here  are 
two  pictures.  The  first  is  a  typical  ranch  in  Mexico. 
The  Gospel  has  been  preached  there  for  a  generation.  The 
son  of  the  first  couple  converted  now  owns  the  ranch. 
He  has  built  a  neat  and  commodious  church  which  is  the 
center  of  the  community  life.  Especially  on  Sunday  is  it 
a  place  of  interest  when  all  work  is  laid  aside  and  most 
of  the  people  of  the  ranch  attend  the  services.  Here  is 
the  delightful  atmosphere  of  a  quiet  Sabbath  day.  In 
the  forenoon,  the  people  are  studying  the  Word  of  God ; 
in  the  afternoon,  the  children  meet  for  catechism  study; 
at  night  all  the  people  meet  again  for  the  preaching  service, 
a  happy  closing  to  a  sweet  day  with  God  and  His  people. 


98  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

The  second  picture  is  also  that  of  a  ranch,  and  only  a 
few  miles  from  the  first.  The  day  yf  God  is  really  the  day 
to  forget  God.  The  saloon  is  open  with  all  its  attendant 
evils.  Gambling,  cockfighting,  racing,  and  bull  fights  are 
in  full  swing.  At  one  time  while  the  missionary  was 
visiting  the  first  ranch,  a  murder  took  place  at  the  second. 
Do  you  not  think  that  the  missionary  holds  the  key  to  the 
solution  of  the  Mexican  problem? 

Long  Journeys,  Pleasant  Surprises.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shelby  hold  the  record  for  making  long  itineraries.  One 
year,  Mr.  Shelby  took  seven  missionary  tours  covering 
some  sixteen  hundred  miles.  On  nearly  all  of  these  trips 
Mrs.  Shelby  accompanied  him,  adding  greatly  to  the  in- 
terest by  playing  the  organ  and  singing.  Another  year 
they  traveled  about  two  thousand  miles  in  private  con- 
veyance, holding  sixty-six  services. 

At  the  end  of  one  of  the  journeys,  they  came  to  a  town 
where  there  was  a  group  of  young  converts,  the  result  of 
some  work  done  there  before  Dr.  Graybill's  death.  These 
babes  in  Christ  had  held  themselves  together  by  the  study 
of  the  Word  of  God.  They  had  their  regular  services, 
nearly  all  taking  part  in  public  prayer,  Mr.  Shelby  found 
them  enthusiastic  about  buying  a  lot.  A  few  months  later, 
Mr.  Shelby  made  another  visit  and  found  the  congregation 
very  much  animated  by  the  work  of  a  student  during  vaca- 
tion. The  desired  lot  had  been  bought  and  a  school  opened 
on  the  property.  The  presbytery  had  appointed  a  commis- 
sion to  organize  a  church. 

After  the  great  floods  in  1909,  which  played  such  havoc 
with  all  northern  Mexico,  Mr.  Shelby  visited  a  town  where 
every  Protestant   family  except  one  had  lost  everything 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  99 

they  had,  including  houses.  With  no  building  in  which 
to  hold  a  service,  they  all  gathered  on  a  hill  overlooking 
the  town  and  lifted  up  their  voices  in  praise  to  God.  This 
act  of  worship  made  a  profound  impression  on  the  Catho- 
lics of  the  place. 

In  Contact  with  Idolatry.  It  is  estimated  that  there 
are  250,000  images  in  the  churches  of  Mexico.  And  as  if 
these  were  not  enough  to  blind  the  people  from  the  true 
God,  there  are  multitudes  of  shrines  in  the  homes.  Almost 
every  home  has  one.  A  part  of  the  equipment  of  many  a 
business  house  is  the  shrine  which  brings  good  luck. 
Public  shrines  and  images  are  sometimes  found  near  large 
towns.  They  are  sometimes  carried  from  place  to  place, 
or  they  have  their  own  permanent  abiding  place  which 
is  visited  at  stated  seasons  by  the  multitudes.  We  are  con- 
stantly encountering  such  pilgrimages. 

Early  one  morning  a  missionary  and  a  student  started 
for  a  two-weeks'  trip  to  the  mountains.  Hardly  had  they 
left  town,  when  they  began  passing  pilgrims  going  up  the 
mountain  side.  The  way  was  marked  by  candles  that  had 
been  dropped  by  some.  Soon  they  were  in  the  midst  of  a 
caravan,  men,  women  and  children  on  burros,  in  carts,  or 
walking.  The  Virgin  of  the  Falls  was  farther  up  in  the 
mountains.  It  was  the  season  for  the  annual  pilgrimage 
to  her  shrine.  When  half  a  mile  from  the  place,  the  people 
were  making  the  last  lap  of  the  journey  on  their  knees. 

When  our  friends  reached  the  place,  they  entered  the 
cave  to  find,  in  a  niche  in  the  wall,  a  small  image  less  than 
a  foot  long.  The  pilgrims  were  kneeling  before  it  with 
their  lighted  candles,  mumbling  their  prayers  to  deaf  ears. 
For  days  the  procession  kept  up.    No  person  in  that  section 


100  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

of  the  country  who  could  get  there  hy  any  possihle  means 
stayed  at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  L.  Ross,  hi  their  visit  to  Poterrillos, 
a  village  about  thirty  miles  from  Linares,  came  into  the 
territory  of  an  image  called  the  "Christ  of  the  Madrona." 
The  owner  is  an  ignorant  man,  Sostenes  Huertas  by  name. 
He  can  neither  read  nor  write,  but  has  a  genius  for  busi- 
ness. About  eighteen  years  ago  he  arranged  with  a  wood 
carver  in  Peterrillos  to  make  for  him  from  the  wood  of 
the  Madrona  tree  an  image  of  the  Crucified  Christ.  This 
part  of  the  story  we  have  from  Christian  friends  who 
know  the  wood  carver  personally,  and  who  knew  of  the 
bargain  at  the  time  of  its  transaction.  Senor  Huertas,  the 
purchaser  of  the  image,  tells  how  he  came  into  poossession 
of  it.  Early  one  May  morning  he  was  looking  for  a  yoke 
of  oxen  which  had  strayed,  and  on  approaching  a  spring 
of  water  in  a  dense  and  lonely  wood,  his  amazed  eyes  be- 
held this  almost  life-sized  figure  of  the  crucified  Christ 
resting  on  the  stump  of  the  Madrona  tree.  At  that  time 
it  was  covered  with  bark,  which  was  later  removed  for  the 
purpose  of  applying  a  preservative  and  polish.  He  im- 
mediately called  his  neighbors  to  see  it,  and  the  next  day  it 
was  removed  from  the  forest  and  carried  to  the  home  of 
Huertas.  He  called  a  priest  who  blessed  it  and  gave  it  the 
name  of  "The  Christ  of  the  Madrona." 

Since  that  time  Huertas  has  had  a  better  business  than 
plowing  oxen.  He  carries  his  image  about  from  place  to 
place  and  lives  from  the  offerings  poured  out  by  the 
credulous  and  superstitious  people.  It  was  brought  to 
Linares  in  the  spring  of  1919  and  was  set  up  on  the  banks 
of  the  river  that  flows  along  the  northern  limits  of  the 
town.    Immediately  the  highway  that  leads  out  to  this  hut 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  101 

was  filled  with  eager  crowds  of  people,  some  prompted  by 
curiosity,  but  the  far  greater  part  going  as  worshippers. 
At  the  time  we  went  to  secure  a  picture  of  the  idol,  the 
room  was  filled  with  kneeling  figures,  some  praying,  others 
crooning  weird  hymns  or  lighting  their  candles  before  it. 
As  they  arose  to  depart  they  crouched  before  it,  kissed  the 
feet  and  embraced  the  knees. 

Hanging  around  the  room  are  records  of  miraculous 
cures  attributed  to  the  "Madrona,"  more  or  less  like  the 
following :  Early  one  morning  an  old  woman  named 
Dionicia  Ramirez  went  out  on  an  errand.  She  was  at- 
tacked by  a  large  ram  with  such  violence  that  she  was  left 
on  the  ground  almost  in  a  dying  condition.  Her  case  was 
thought  hopeless,  but  her  granddaughter  prayed  to  the 
"Madrona,"  oiTered  vows  before  it,  and  the  old  woman 
was  soon  in  her  usual  health. 

On  a  cord  stretched  before  the  image  are  tiny  silver 
arms,  limbs,  hearts,  each  indicating  that  some  worshipper 
has  been  healed  in  that  particular  part  of  the  body.  There 
are  also  little  silver  mules,  horses,  oxen  and  sheep,  offer- 
ings made  by  grateful  owners  whose  lost  or  sick  animals 
had  been  restored  by  making  prayers  and  offerings  to  the 
idol. 

The  features  of  the  image  are  very  crude  and  ugly  and 
would  provoke  a  smile  were  it  not  for  the  moral  shudder 
produced  as  one  thinks  of  it  as  an  object  of  worship.  And 
yet  in  spite  of  such  crudeness,  the  ignorant  carver 
stumbled  upon  a  subtle  appeal  in  the  posture  of  the  body. 
There  is  suffering  and  submission  in  the  bowed  head  and 
uplifted  arms,  which  have  been  a  very  valuable  asset  to 
Huerta's  venture  m  high  finance. 


102  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

VI. 

Soil  Culture  and  Soul   Culture 

Pioneers.  In  the  minutes  of  the  Mission  Meeting. 
December  28,  1907,  we  find  these  words :  "It  is  the 
sense  of  the  Mission  that  its  greatest  present  need  is  an 
advanced  school  for  boys  with  an  industrial  department," 
Our  Mission  has  the  honor  of  being  the  pioneer  in  this 
branch  of  work.  Since  then  two  other  churches  have 
established  such  schools. 

A  Large  Place  for  Industrial  Missions.  Industrial 
education  is  one  of  the  great  needs  of  the  Mexican  people. 
Considering  the  enormous  natural  wealth  of  Mexico,  and 
the  extreme  poverty  of  the  people,  it  is  evident  that  some- 
thing is  wrong.  Hundreds  of  thousands  of  the  people  go 
to  bed  at  night  hungry,  their  bed  being  the  bare  ground 
or  a  pile  of  straw.  For  millions  home  is  merely  a  hovel, 
and  their  clothing  is  rags.  One  of  the  causes  of  poverty 
is  low  production.  Their  methods  of  farming  are  crude, 
and  their  returns  for  the  labor  expended  are  small.  With 
a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  home-made  plow,  days  are  spent 
on  a  task  which  could  be  accomplished  in  a  few  hours 
with  modern  implements. 

An  industrial  school  is  also  a  place  for  character- 
forming.  According  to  Mexican  customs  gentlemen  do 
not  soil  their  hands  with  manual  labor,  no  matter  from 
what  station  of  life  they  may  have  come.  The  educated 
class  becomes  the  leisure  class.  A  student  for  the  min- 
istry was  greatly  surprised  to  find  that  the  missionary 
worked  his  own  garden,  and  was  not  too  proud  to  carry 
a  basket  or  a  bundle  through  the  streets.    There  is  some- 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  103 

thing  wrong  with  a  social  and  economic  condition  which 
forces  men  to  toil  all  day  long  to  produce  enough  for  a 
meager  living,  leaving  little  time  for  the  higher  things 
of  Hfe. 

An  industrial  school  is  also  of  great  value  to  the  church. 
The  most  vital  problem  that  faces  the  missionary  in  any 
land,  is  how  to  build  up  a  strong,  efficient,  self-sustaining 
church.  Our  Presbyterian  Church  in  Mexico  can  never 
be  that,  until  our  membership  is  composed  of  strong,  ef- 
ficient, self-supporting  men.  So  long  as  our  church  mem- 
bership is  poverty  stricken  we  shall  have  to  continue  to 
build  their  churches  and  pay  their  pastors.  Our  Mexican 
Christians  contribute  all  they  can  to  the  support  of  their 
work,  but  they  are  poor,  and  there  are  hungry  mouths  to 
fill.  The  church  treasurer  may  find  in  the  collection  plate 
eggs,  jewelry,  promises  of  corn,  beans,  chickens,  or  even 
turkeys. 

Half  a  century  has  passed  since  our  church  began  work 
in  Mexico.  Many  souls  have  been  saved,  and  we  thank 
God  for  them.  But  if  we  are  ever  to  claim  Mexico  for 
our  Master,  it  must  be  done  through  the  Mexican  people 
whom  we  have  taught  to  be  self-reliant  and  self-sustaining. 

The  Graybill  Memorial  School.  To  begin  to  meet 
this  great  need  the  mission  established  the  Graybill  Memo- 
rial School.  Because  it  was  an  entirely  new  enterprise, 
and  because  of  its  significance  in  our  field,  it  became  the 
pride  and  joy  of  the  Mission.  It  was  on  our  hearts  even 
during  sleeping  hours.  At  one  time,  when  search  was 
being  made  for  the  land  for  the  school,  one  of  our  number 
was  heard  to  announce  in  his  sleep  the  amount  of  water 
we  must  have  for  irrigation  purposes,  and  he  announced 


104  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

it  in  Spanish!  Another  missionary,  during  an  attack  of 
tonsilitis,  converted  his  bed  into  all  the  country  that  had 
been  thought  of  for  the  school.  For  two  nights,  his 
feverish  brain  tried  to  make  the  most  suitable  selection, 
each  piece  of  bed-clothing  being  a  different  plot  of  ground. 

The  gifts  from  Children's  Day  in  1909  were  used  for 
the  purchase  of  the  land.  Great  interest  wa-s  displayed 
by  the  Mexicans  of  all  classes  and  all  faiths.  The  in- 
dustrial feature  especially  appealed  to  the  men  of  that 
well-watered  section. 

Two  Directors.  The  great  movement  among  the  lay- 
men has  not  confined  its  energies  to  the  home  church,  but 
has  been  pushing  its  members  out  into  the  foreign  field. 
Fortunately  for  Mexico,  three  of  these  have  been  sent  to 
her,  namely,  Mr.  Morrow,  Dr.  Coppedge  and  Mr.  Wray. 
Mr.  Morrow  was  the  first  to  come  to  take  charge  of  this 
school.  I  J 

In  his  annual  report  of  1911,  Mr.  Morrow  wrote:  "The 
Graybill  Memorial  School  opened  October  2nd  with  the 
dormitory  in  an  old  ramshackled  rented  house  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  property,  and  with  class  rooms 
partitioned  off  in  one  of  our  shop  buildings.  Yet  we  have 
enrolled  boys  from  well-to-do  Catholic  families  of  the 
town.  Everywhere  the  people  recognize  the  superiority 
of  the  Protestant  Schools.  These  Catholic  boys  are  study- 
ing the  Bible  along  with  the  sons  of  our  church  members. 
They  sing  hymns  with  zest  at  the  chapel  exercises. 
One  Catholic  father  said  to  me,  T  want  you  to  admit  my 
boy  to  your  school.  Let  him  come  home  to  eat  and  sleep, 
but  the  rest  of  the  time  he  is  yours.  I  don't  care  what 
you  do  with  him.    Make  a  preacher  of  him  if  you  want  to, 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  105 

but  I  want  him  in  your  school.'  Three  Catholic  boys,  with 
seventeen  who  are  sons  of  Protestant  church  members  or 
friends  of  Protestants,  give  us  an  enrollment  of  twenty. 
Of  these,  fourteen  are  boarding  pupils,  all  poor  boys. 
No  one  of  them  pays  more  than  three  dollars  per  month 
towards  his  support.  Some  leave  their  homes  at  a  sacri- 
fice to  enter  school.  We  had  applicants,  some  of  them 
sons  of  rich  men,  but  our  dormitory  would  have  been  a 
disgrace  to  Protestant  America,  so  we  refused  to  take 
them." 

Mrs.  Morrow  gives  her  story  of  these  early  days  of  the 
school :  "We  began  the  Graybill  Memorial  School  with 
seventy  acres  of  land,  a  good  shop  with  machinery,  and  we 
lived  in  an  old  rented  building.  On  the  first  days  after 
a  norther,  the  centipedes  dropped  down  from  the  old 
ceiling,  adding  zest  to  our  lives.  Sometimes  we  had  to 
move  three  or  four  times  during  the  night  to  escape  being 
rained  on.  The  bath  house  for  the  boys  was  a  wash  pan 
under  a  tree  in  the  patio,  and  on  irrigating  stream  that 
ran  through  our  property.  One  large  room,  formerly  a 
cigarette  factory,  was  our  dormitory.  Cots  and  home- 
made tables  constituted  the  furniture.  This  room  was 
a  study  hall  every  night  from  seven  to  nine.  There 
was  one  oil  lamp  for  every  two  boys.  They  sat  on  their 
cots,  for  there  was  no  room  for  chairs,  though  later  the 
boys  made  benches  on  which  to  sit  so  as  not  to  soil  the 
cot  with  their  work  clothes.  I  determined  to  teach  the 
boys  the  use  of  sheets  and  counterpanes,  despite  the  dirt 
floors.  Every  morning  I  inspected  the  cots  and  gave 
grades  to  go  along  with  their  geometry.  At  first,  some 
of  the  boys  slept  under  both  sheets,  others  on  top  of 
both  and  some  beds  showed  evidence  that  their  occupants 
had  not  removed  their  socks.    But  gradually  they  learned. 


106  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

"We  had  an  organ  in  one  corner  of  the  room  and  at 
9  o'clock  we  had  family  prayers.  It  was  touching  to  hear 
the  boys  thank  God  for  the  people  who  had  made  the 
school  possible  for  them.  I  offered  a  pretty  white  coun- 
terpane 'for  keeps'  to  the  boy  with  the  best  bed  record. 
It  was  won  by  a  boy  who  now  holds  a  good  railroad  posi- 
tion in  Mexico  City. 

"When  one  of  the  boys  took  the  mumps,  there  was  no 
place  in  which  to  quarantine  him,  except  in  my  own 
kitchen,  which  was  only  a  "lean-to"  from  the  dining  room, 
and  was  exposed  to  the  weather.  I  can  see  him  now 
holding  his  swollen  face  in  his  hands,  not  dreaming 
that  he  would  soon  be  a  consul's  secretary. 

"When  a  new  boy  would  appear  and  there  was  no 
place  for  him,  and  no  cot,  we  would  call  a  meeting  of  the 
students  and  ask  if  we  should  send  him  away,  'No,  I'll 
make  his  bench,'  and  'No,  I'll  make  his  cot,'  and  'No,  we 
can  squeeze  a  place  in  the  corner'  would  be  the  answers. 

"One  day  Loreto  Cruz  came  to  us  from  the  far  away 
Sierra  Madre.  He  wore  the  regulation  white  pajama 
suit,  the  big  sombrero,  sandals,  and  carried  a  red  wool 
blanket.  He  said  when  he  first  heard  of  the  school  he 
immediately  set  out,  and  now  he  had  arrived.  He  couldn't 
read,  and  our  lowest  class  was  the  fifth  grade,  so  we 
could  not  receive  him.  We  gave  him  work  on  the  farm. 
The  overseer's  wife  taught  him  his  letters  by  candle  light. 
Later,  he  was  allowed  to  eat  with  the  boys  and  to  sit 
with  them  in  Church.  His  text  books  were  the  hymnal 
and  the  Bible.  Later  on,  he  married  a  fine  well-educated 
girl.  He  made  of  her  a  good  Christian,  and  she  made 
of  him  a  gentleman.  He  now  holds  a  good  position  in 
Tampico. 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  107 

"While  we  were  struggling  along  in  the  fashion  I  have 
described  to  you,  the  boys  were  attending  classes  all  morn- 
ing, even  on  Saturdays.  Those  who  wished,  had  drawing 
or  music  lessons  at  the  rest  hour  after  dinner.  Then  at 
2  o'clock  everybody  went  to  work.  Some  days  all  were 
in  the  shop  making  brooms,  or  getting  out  orange  crates  a 
neighboring  ranchman  had  ordered,  or  some  macaroni 
boxes,  or  making  desks  for  our  own  school-room,  or  for 
others.  Some  days  a  squad  irrigated,  others  picked 
oranges,  pruned  the  trees  or  sprayed  them.  Special  boys 
learned  to  milk,  others  had  charge  of  the  poultry  and 
others  fed  the  pigs.  One  young  man  used  to  load  up  a 
cart  with  sweet  potatoes  and  peddle  them  through  the  city, 
getting  a  commission  on  his  sales. 

"The  industrial  school  teaches  the  brotherhood  of  man. 
The  patrician  and  the  peon  blend  more  easily  at  a  turning 
lathe.  Toward  the  latter  part  of  the  last  year  at  Monte- 
morelos  we  were  made  happy,  by  hearing  Luis,  a  rich 
boy,  call  out  'Hermano'  (brother)  to  a  peon  boy  who 
was  playing  ball  on  first-base,  while  he  himself  was 
catcher. 

"After  my  return  from  furlough  the  only  active  teach- 
ing I  did  was  two  classes  in  drawing  and  painting.  I  took 
the  work,  not  because  I  thought  I  knew  how  to  draw  or 
paint,  but  because  somebody  put  'didujo  Y  pintura'  in  our 
course  of  study,  and  some  one  had  to  fill  the  bill.  The 
boys  were  enthusiastic  over  the  drawing  class.  I  had  them 
in  the  dining  room,  which  had  no  windows  and  only  one 
source  of  light,  the  door,  so  half  the  class  drew  in  their 
own  shadows. 

"I  also  had  prayers  and  study  hours  on  Friday  nights. 
This  took  about  three  hours.    It  also  fell  to  my  lot  to  make 


108  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

a  tour  of  the  place  and  examine  the  beds,  the  floor,  the 
streets,  the  patio,  etc.,  every  morning,  to  pmiish  for  un- 
filled duties  and  for  not  getting  up  at  6  o'clock.  I  kept  the 
accounts  of  the  household  expenses  of  the  school  and 
personally  bought  many  of  the  staple  groceries.  I  feel 
that  I  must  speak  a  kind  word  for  Dona  Petra,  the  cook. 
I  used  to  give  her  ten  pesos  ($5.00)  at  a  time  to  buy 
daily  supplies,  and  she  rendered  an  itemized  account  for 
every  onion  and  potato  when  she  came  for  another  ten 
pesos.     I  recognize  her  as  a  true  missionary." 

The  following  extract  from  one  of  Mr.  Morrow's  re- 
ports helps  us  to  see  the  workings  of  the  school :  "During 
the  month  of  September,  my  work  was  all  the  English  and 
Mathematics  classes,  and  the  general  supervision  of  the 
place,  as  well  as  my  correspondence  and  bookkeeping.  In 
October,  in  view  of  the  big  orange  crop  to  be  sold,  I 
thought  it  best  to  leave  the  class  room  and  take  charge 
of  the  farm  and  the  sale  of  the  oranges.  For  the  remain- 
ing three  months  of  the  year,  I  rose  earlier,  worked 
harder  and  enjoyed  better  health  than  usual.  Although 
prices  were  low  and  sales  slow,  on  account  of  a  very 
large  crop  and  the  unusually  wet  season,  all  our  oranges 
were  picked  by  the  end  of  the  year,  and  we  realized  a 
little  over  two  thousand  pesos  ($1,000)  for  the  crop." 

Thus  with  meager  equipment  the  school  continued  its 
good  work  until  l^roken  up  by  the  revolution.  The  souls 
of  these  boys  were  nurtured.  They  were  not  only  being 
trained  to  make  the  wealth  of  their  country  serve  for 
their  own  comfort  and  happiness,  but  they  were  alsp 
learning  how  to  make  it  contribute  to  the  upbuilding  of  the 
kingdom  of  God. 


PART  TWO 

THE  DAWN 

(Continued) 
Chapter  V. 


But  when  he  saw  the  multitudes,  He  was  moved  with 
compassion  on  them,  because  they  fainted  and  were  scat- 
tered, abroad,  as  sheep  having  no  shepherd." — Matthew 
9:36. 


Chapter  Five 


IN  REVOLUTION 

It  was  just  in  the  midst  of  a  period  of  rapid  growth 
and  enlarging  plans  that  Mexico  was  plunged  into  ten 
years  of  revolution.  Years  of  turmoil  followed  the  long 
years  of  peace  under  President  Diaz,  during  which  the 
Protestant  Missions,  almost  entirely  uninterrupted,  had 
been  making  splendid  progress.  Other  denominations 
were  doing  similar  work  in  other  sections  of  the  country. 
They  were  exerting  mighty  influence  in  making  a  new 
nation.  There  were  over  300  American  missionaries  in 
Mexico;  there  were  nearly  650  Mexican  workers;  nearly 
700  stations  and  outstations  had  been  established ;  there 
were  about  150  day  schools  with  15,000  pupils  and  36 
high  schools  with  5,500  students;  there  were  about 
30,000  living  church  members  and  in  addition  a  still  larger 
number  of  adherents.  Constructive  programs  were  being 
set  forth  by  leading  denominational  papers.  The  Amer- 
ican Bible  Society  had  put  into  circulation  over  800,000 
copies  of  the  Bible.  The  American  Tract  Society  had 
been  sending  a  constant  stream  of  Christian  literature  into 
the  country. 

The  influence  of  the  Protestant  movement  was  far  out 
of  proportion  to  its  numerical  strength.  By  their  daily 
Hves  the  Mexican  Christians  had  been  breaking  down 
prejudice.  They  were  recognized  by  the  government  as 
being  progressive.  They  favored  the  Reform  Laws. 
They  believed  in  education.     They  were  patriotic,     Prot- 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  111 

estant  teachers  were  sought  for  the  puhlic  schools  and 
Protestants  held  places  of  importance  in  the  government. 
Just  when  God  seemed  to  be  opening  up  a  wonderful  new 
day  for  Protestant  work,  the  revolution  came  and  brought 
it  to  a  sudden  halt.  But  even  in  this  His  hand  can  be 
seen.  He  was  overruling  it  for  the  ultimate  good  of  His 
cause. 

The  Cause  of  the  Revolution,  expressed  in  one  word 
was  injustice.  Students  of  Mexican  history  will  recall 
that  this  last  upheaval  was  but  a  recurrence  of  what  had 
been  taking  place  in  Mexico  during  a  hundred  years. 
The  general  causes  of  the  recent  revolutions  are  age  long. 
We  have  noticed  briefly  something  of  the  part  the  different 
races  played  in  the  formation  of  the  people.  We  have 
also  noticed  briefly  some  of  the  influences  that  have  entered 
into  the  making  of  the  Mexican  civilization.  The  lan- 
guage, the  religion,  the  philosophy,  the  ideas  of  govern- 
ment had  their  beginning  in  ancient  Rome.  The  govern- 
ment was  not  for  the  governed  but  for  the  governors. 
Exploitation  followed  and  soon  the  exploiters  organized 
against  the  exploited.  The  church  took  the  side  of  the 
exploiters  in  almost  every  case,  by  keeping  the  people 
in  ignorance  and  fostering  superstition.  While  man  was 
debased,  and  submissiveness  became  a  habit,  there  was  a 
growing  consciousness  that  he  was  being  treated  unjustly. 
Resistance  at  first  was  impossible  but  in  time  there  came 
a  series  of  revolutions.  All  of  these  revolutions  have  been 
chiefly  the  strivings  of  the  oppressed  to  throw  off  an  age- 
long bondage,  and  to  gain  for  themselves  a  small  place 
on  their  native  soil. 

"There  are  farms  in  Mexico  so  large  that  it  takes  a 
railroad  train  all  day  to  cross  them.  The  Terrazas  estate 
in  Chihuahua  contains  thirteen  million  acres,  an  area  as 


112  Su)irisc  in  A::tcc  Land 

large  as  Holland  and  Belgium  combined.  There  is  an  es- 
tate in  Yucatan  said  to  contain  15  million  acres.  The  peons 
on  these  estates  received  formerly  twelve  and  a  half  cents 
gold  a  day  and  vi^ere  kept  in  debt  that  they  might  be 
compelled  to  remain  on  the  place." 

Besides  these  general  causes  there  were  some  immediate 
causes.  It  will  be  remembered  that  this  revolution  came 
just  as  President  Diaz  was  rounding  out  his  seventh  term 
of  office.  The  crowning  act  was  the  centennial  celebra- 
tion in  Mexico  City,  to  which  all  the  nations  sent  their 
representatives.  The  rule  of  this  remarkable  man  had 
given  to  Mexico  her  only  real  period  of  order  and  pros- 
perity in  her  entire  history.  The  Evangelican  invasion 
of  Mexico  was  begun  and  carried  forward  during  that 
period.  Travel  was  safe.  Protection  was  given  to  Prot- 
estant worshippers,  troops  being  sent  on  more  than  one 
occasion  at  the  request  of  missionaries  to  suppress  riots. 

President  Diaz  knew  the  value  of  the  Protestant  move- 
ment, and  he  also  knew  better  than  the  younger  gener- 
ation the  influence  of  the  Roman  Catholic  clergy  in  the 
government  and  their  political  ambitions.  He  knew  who 
had  caused  the  bloody  war  over  the  Reform  Law  which 
later  brought  on  the  French  Intervention,  for  he  himself 
had  taken  part  in  both  of  these  struggles.  When  asked, 
not  long  before  his  downfall,  by  a  group  of  Protestant 
missionaries  whether  the  rigid  laws  as  to  the  holding  of 
real  estate  by  churches  would  not  some  day  be  relaxed, 
he  shook  his  head  and  said :  "It  would  be  well  enough  as 
concerns  you  gentlemen,  but  we  have  to  be  thinking  of 
the  clergy  (Roman)  ;  we  have  had  experience  with  them; 
they  are  not  satisfied  to  manage  their  church;  they  want 
to  manage  the  government  too," 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  113 

During  Diaz'  later  years,  the  abuses  of  power  by  the 
Catholic  church  again  appeared.  Convents  and  monas- 
teries were  opened  in  defiance  of  the  laws,  Catholic  schools 
were  subsidized  from  public  funds,  and  processions  were 
held  without  molestation.  Though  some  men  in  Mexico 
were  disturbed  by  this  law-breaking,  they  feared  the  in- 
fluences which  surrounded  their  president.  Dona  Carmen, 
his  young  and  sprightly  wife,  was  a  devout  Catholic  and 
was  used  by  the  clergy  and  Jesuits  to  keep  them  in  touch 
with  matters  of  State.  As  age  came  on  he  grew  lax  in 
his  vigilance.  Members  of  his  official  family  also  took 
advantage  of  his  advancing  age,  and  began  to  show  defer- 
ence to  the  Roman  clergy.  Lovers  of  liberty  knew  the 
evils  of  ecclesiastical  oppression  and  were  willing  to  join 
a  movement  which  even  meant  exile  to  their  aged  presi- 
dent, if  his  permanence  in  office  should  mean  the  return 
of  these  abuses.  The  associates  of  President  Diaz  were 
wealthy  land-owners  who  were  running  the  government 
largely  in  their  own  interests.  Favoritism  was  shown  to 
them  in  the  matter  of  taxation  and  concessions. 

Improved  economic  conditions  had  their  effect.  Wages 
were  better.  The  wants  of  the  people  multiplied  and  they 
began  to  think  and  investigate,  and  with  their  thinking, 
they  began  to  ask  questions.  Why  should  a  few  own 
more  land  than  they  could  cultivate,  while  the  masses  had 
none?  Why  was  the  poor  man  taxed  heavily  and  the 
rich  man  lightly?  They  began  to  want  a  voice  in  the 
government  to  help  adjust  these  wrongs. 

The  climax  came  when  in  1910  Francisco  L.  Madero, 
a  young  idealist,  courageous,  and  of  a  kind  heart,  having 
announced  himself  as  a  candidate  for  the  presidency,  was 
thrown  in  jail.     When  released  it  was  easy  to  call  the 


114  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

people  to  his  standard.  Madero  was  warmly  favorable  to 
Protestantism,  and  the  world  will  never  know  what  he 
might  have  accomplished  for  his  people  had  he  been 
given  a  chance.  His  ideals  and  methods  were  much  in 
advance  of  his  time.  Opposition  arose  soon  after  he  was 
elected  president,  resulting  in  his  untimely  death.  Un- 
doubtedly, he  holds  a  permanent  place  among  Mexico's 
national  heroes. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  a  period  of  stress  followed  the 
fall  of  Madero.  It  would  be  too  much  to  expect  a  sudden 
change  from  a  despotism  to  a  well-organized  democracy. 
During  the  year  of  the  struggle,  the  ideals  before  the 
people  were  the  breaking  up  of  the  great  estates  for  the 
benefit  of  the  common  people,  the  readjustment  of  taxes, 
the  right  of  suffrage  and  the  elimination  of  the  political 
power  of  the  Catholic  Church.  But  these  ideals  were 
not  always  clearly  defined.  The  characteristic  of  the 
Mexicans  to  follow  leaders  rather  than  principles  tended 
to  cloud  the  issues  and  prolong  the  struggle.  As  is  true 
in  all  wars,  opportunity  was  given  for  the  worst  elements 
to  come  to  the  surface,  and  robber  bands  roved  over  the 
country.  Churches  and  schools  were  destroyed  and  so- 
ciety was  disrupted. 

Besides  dealing  with  these  robber  bands  and  the  natural 
exigencies  of  civil  war,  the  Mexican  people  in  their  strug- 
gle for  freedom  were  spilling  brothers'  blood,  burning 
towns,  tearing  up  railroads,  destroying  crops,  closing 
schools,  and  wrecking  homes. 

Along  with  everything  else  our  mission  work  sufifered 
from  these  conditions.  During  the  first  two  or  three 
years  of  the  revolution,  our  section  was  not  greatly  dis- 
turbed.   A  new  station  was  opened  at  Tula  in  Nuevo  Leon 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  115 

and  Mr.  Shelby  was  put  in  charge.  Shortly  afterwards, 
Mrs.  Shelby  wrote :  "For  more  than  two  years  we  have 
known  that  our  future  home  would  be  Tula,  a  mountain 
town  of  twenty-five  thousand  inhabitants,  120  miles  from 
Victoria.  The  road  to  Tula  is  across  the  dizzy  heights  of 
the  Sierra  Madre.  Some  places  are  almost  impassable, 
but  we  made  the  trip  very  well.  One  night  we  camped 
out.  Margaret  and  I  slept  in  the  wagon,  while  James — 
not  two  years  old — and  his  father,  and  a  Mexican  boy 
slept  outside  to  keep  off  robbers  and  wild  beasts.  On  top 
of  a  high  climb,  we  ran  into  a  thunder  storm.  Our  trip 
was  full  of  experiences.  One  night  we  arrived  at  a  small 
town  where  one  of  our  normal  school  teachers  was  teach- 
ing in  the  public  school.  We  spent  the  night  at  the  house 
in  which  she  stayed,  and  though  the  family  was  very 
fanatical,  we  were  treated  royally. 

"We  found  our  small  shepherdless  flock — Mr.  Shelby 
had  been  there  before  and  had  begun  work -very  much 
scattered,  some  having  denied  the  faith  and  others  having 
become  indifferent.  There  had  been  no  missionary  at  this 
place,  and  with  only  an  occasional  visit  from  some  worker, 
we  could  hardly  expect  any  more  progress  to  have  been 
made.  We  are  full  of  plans  for  the  work  and  hope  to  be 
very  happy  here.  The  climate  is  delightful.  What  more 
could  we  want? 

"The  population  is  very  dense,  composed  mostly  of 
illiterate  people  who  seem  to  be  without  a  shepherd  or 
anyone  to  care  for  their  souls.  Some  of  them  hear  the 
Gospel  gladly,  but  they  are  the  victims  of  all  kinds  of 
superstitions,  ignorance,  and  prejudice.  We  have  made 
some  friends  among  the  better  class."  This  station  gave 
us  the  seventh  center  where  missionaries  were  living. 


116  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

By  moving  into  her  new  home  in  San  Benito.  Miss  Dy- 
sart  put  the  capstone  on  what  proved  to  be  about  the  only 
semblance  of  a  Mission  Compound  which  Vtte  had  had  in 
the  Mission  up  to  that  time.  The  church  and  school  had 
been  built  on  adjoining  lots,  and  in  this  center,  Miss  Dy- 
sart  did  an  unusually  fine  piece  of  work.  There  was  a 
day  school  with  classes  in  industrial  arts.  Soon  a  church 
was  organized  and  began  a  vigorous  life.  The  condition 
of  the  Mexicans  was  one  of  pathetic  need,  and  Miss  Dy- 
sart  responded  to  that  need.  She  was  the  lawyer  for  the 
poor,  fighting  for  their  rights,  recording  deeds  to  their 
property,  and  even  delivering  them  from  prison  when  they 
were  falsely  accused  as  bandits.  With  her  pony  "Nelly", 
she  traveled  far  and  near  about  the  Master's  business. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Madero  in  February  1913,  the 
revolution  struck  northeastern  Mexico,  and  all  of  us 
began  to  suffer  from  its  effects.  In  May,  the  battle  in 
Montemorelos  forced  the  closing  of  Graybill  Memorial 
School.  About  the  same  time  the  advancing  revolutionary 
army  approached  Matamoros  and  we  decided  to  close  the 
girls'  school  there. 

In  September,  191 3,  the  Executive  Committee  ordered 
all  the  missionary  women  out  of  Mexico,  so  that  Mrs. 
Shelby  and  Mrs.  Morrow  left  the  country,  and  Miss  Lee 
remained  in  Laredo,  Texas,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  H.  L.  Ross, 
returning  from  their  furlough  in  September,  stopped  at 
Brownsville,  Texas,  instead  of  going  on  to  their  station. 
Mr.  Shelby  and  Mr.  Morrow  were  the  only  missionaries 
still  in  the  country.  They  were  both  living  in  Montemore- 
los. Mr.  Shelby  was  doing  as  much  evangelistic  work  as 
possible,  and  Mr.  Morrow  was  looking  after  the  property. 
But  during  1914  they  also  were  forced  to  leave,  and  joined 
the  other  refugees  on  the  Texas  side  of  the  Rio  Grande, 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  117 

We  had  never  had  a  hospital  in  Mexico  up  to  that  time. 
The  day  after  the  battle  of  Matamoros  in  June,  191 3,  we 
offered  the  school  building  to  the  commanders  of  the 
forces.  This  was  gladly  accepted,  and  for  several  weeks 
during  the  summer,  the  house  was  full  of  wounded  sol- 
diers. Small  boys  were  among  the  wounded  and  dying. 
War  does  not  discriminate.  It  does  not  look  into  the 
eyes  it  is  closing  forever.  It  knows  not  whom  it  strikes 
and  cares  not.  But  the  Mission  was  glad  to  serve  in  a 
small  way  the  wounded  of  both  factions.  After  the  battle 
in  Victoria,  about  one  hundred  wounded  soldiers  were 
brought  to  Matamoros  for  treatment.  This  time  it  was 
the  teachers  and  students  of  the  Girls'  School  who  helped. 
Some  assisted  in  dressing  w^ounds ;  others  made  sheets, 
pillow  cases,  and  shirts,  all  of  them  winning  a  reputation 
for  Christian  graces  and  modest  behavior. 

At  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Laredo,  which  almost  de- 
stroyed the  town,  the  Mexicans  organized  hospitals  for 
the  wounded  and  Miss  Lee  served  as  nurse  for  the  suffer- 
ing and  dying. 

Mr.  H.  L.  Ross,  visiting  the  churches  in  Mexico,  was 
greatly  moved  by  the  suffering  of  our  church  members, 
caused  by  lack  of  food  and  clothing.  When  he  returned, 
he  and  Mr.  Morrow  took  into  the  interior  large  quanti- 
ties of  meat,  flour  and  other  necessities. 

While  revolutions  were  springing  up  in  Mexico,  new 
towns  were  springing  up  on  the  American  side  of  the 
Rio  Grande.  This  development  of  "the  magic  valley"  was 
the  result  of  the  construction  of  large  irrigation  canals. 
Many  Mexicans  came  to  these  towns  seeking  work.  The 
Presbytery  and  Mission  at  once  took  adantage  of  the 
situation   and   began   working   among   them.      We   have 


118  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

already  noticed  the  good  work  being  done  by  Miss  Dysart 
in  San  Benito,  one  of  these  new  towns.  Others  of  our 
missionaries  did  a  similar  work  on  a  small  scale  in  Mer- 
cedes, Harlingen,  Carricitos  and  smaller  places.  Besides 
this  work  under  the  Foreign  Mission  Committee,  the 
Home  Mission  Committee  had  work  at  Laredo,  and  dur- 
ing these  years  established  the  Texas  Mexican  Industrial 
Institute  at  Kingsville.  Places  were  thus  opened  for  the 
missionary  refugees  where  they  could  continue  work 
among  Mexicans.  This  period  of  watchful  waiting  had 
its  compensations.  More  intensive  work  was  done  on  the 
Texas  side  and  members  of  both  Missions  were  being 
drawn  nearer  to  each  other.  Miss  Lee  soon  became 
settled  in  Laredo.  It  was  during  those  trying  years  that 
she  wrote  the  story  "Carmencita"  which  gives  a  true  pic- 
ture of  Mexican  life  among  the  masses.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shelby  made  their  home  in  Mercedes  during  this  time, 
until  they  went  to  Cuba  for  a  year  in  response  to  a  call 
for  help.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrow  went  to  the  Texas- 
Mexican  Industrial  Institute,  taking  with  them  some  of 
the  boys  from  Graybill  Memorial  School  and  helped  Dr. 
Skinner  there  in  a  similar  work. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  L.  Ross  lived  firs't  in  Brownsville  and 
later  in  Harlingen  where  they  remained  until  they  moved 
back  into  Mexico.  Aristotle  was  not  far  ahead  of  Miss 
McClelland  as  he  moved  his  parapetetic  school  around  the 
porticos  of  Athens.  Miss  McClelland  went  one  step  fur- 
ther as  she  moved  from  one  side  to  the  other  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  until  she  finally  moved  herself  and  school  fifteen 
hundred  miles  South  to  San  Angel,  just  outside  of  Mexico 
City.  She  thus  describes  her  feelings  at  one  of  the  times 
when  she  was  on  the  Matamoros  side  of  the  Rio  Grande : 
"The  intervention  scare  kept  the  whole  establishment  in  a 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  119 

state  bordering  on  chaos  for  over  two  weeks.  Every  morn- 
ing alarming  reports  would  come  thick  and  fast,  and  the 
house-keeper  would  go  and  pack  up  her  wash-rag.  For- 
tunately at  evening  there  would  be  light.  I  spent  my  time 
publicly  saying,  'I  don't  believe  a  word  of  it',  and  pri- 
vately preparing  my  last  will  and  testament." 

Our  proximity  to  our  work  in  the  interior  of  Mexico 
made  it  possible  for  frequent  visits  to  be  made  to  our 
field  during  the  interval  between  battles.  Due  to  these 
visits  and  the  ability  of  the  Mexican  church  to  keep 
together,  the  work  in  the  Presbytery  of  Tamaulipas  did 
not  suffer  as  much  as  that  in  other  sections. 

One  must  not  conclude  that  just  because  the  mission- 
aries finally  took  up  somewhat  settled  abodes  during  the 
revolution,  that  their  lives  were  in  quiet  ways.  Far  from 
it.  They  were  more  often  moving  than  still.  Few  pic- 
tures of  them  could  have  been  taken  except  with  a  cine- 
matograph camera.  Some  of  the  missionaries  were  com- 
pelled to  move  from  one  house  to  another,  even  in  the 
same  town.  H.  L.  Ross  and  'his  family  moved  seven 
times  in  one  year. 

The  longest  episode  in  the  picture  came  in  19 16.  Con- 
ditions had  so  improved  that  it  was  decided  that  all  could 
return  to  their  homes  in  Mexico.  It  was  a  happy  time 
and  things  were  going  well.  Mr.  Shelby  reached  Saltillo 
in  time  to  take  part  in  a  union  evangelistic  campaign  of 
the  Methodists,  Baptists,  and  Presbyterians  at  which  time 
two  large  halls  were  necessary  to  hold  the  congregations. 
As  a  result  of  this  campaign  one  hundred  came  forward, 
expressing  a  desire  to  confess  Christ.  In  Linares,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  H.  L.  Ross  took  part  in  a  Sunday  School  cam- 
paign which  yielded  splendid  results.     In  Montemorelos, 


120 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrow  were  doing  spring  cleaning  at  Gray- 
bill  Memorial.  The  scene  was  peaceful  and  happy.  Sud- 
denly the  happy  scene  changed.  The  call  came  "All 
Americans  out  of  Mexico."  Only  four  hours'  notice ! 
Half  laundered  clothes  were  wrapped  in  oil  cloth  and 
plunged  into  trunks.  Other  trunks  were  filled  expediti- 
ously with  what  had  to  be  left  behind.  Servants  were  paid 
and  parting  instructions  given  about  a  hundred  things. 
Hurried  goodbyes  were  said,  and  even  beggars  came  for  a 
last  gift.  You  say  it  could  not  be  done?  Mrs.  Ross  said 
that  if  by  this  time  we  had  not  attained  acrobatic  nimble- 
ness  in  this  line,  we  would  have  been  dullards  indeed. 

A  Testing  Time.  The  Mexican  Churches  during  those 
years  were  being  put  to  severe  tests,  and  they  stood  them 
well.  Every  visit  made  by  the  missionaries  revealed  some 
new  development.  The  sufferings  caused  by  the  war  were 
softening  and  purifying.     Levity  and   shallowness  were 


Street  Scene  in  Guadlagaka 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  121 

out  of  order.  Grim  death  and  relentless  war  were  blowing 
the  chaff  away  from  the  church  and  the  pure  wheat  re- 
mained behind.  The  Mexican  Christians  were  developing 
the  spirit  of  independence,  self-confidence,  and  initiative 
which  has  since  been  so  marked  in  the  Presbytery.  Little 
did  any  of  us  know  that  God  was  preparing  them  for  the 
ordeals  which  were  to  come  later.  This  self-reliance  of 
the  Mexican  ministers  and  churches  was  preparing  them 
for  self-support.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  during  some 
of  those  trying  years  more  members  were  received  into  the 
churches  and  more  money  given  for  the  support  of  the 
Gospel  than  in  any  other  years  in  our  history. 

Preparing  the  Ground.  Not  only  was  the  seed  sow- 
ing of  the  Gospel  progressing  and  bearing  fruit,  but  the 
unhappy  conditions  in  Mexico  were  also  preparing  the 
country  for  larger  harvests. 

It  will  be  of  interest  to  quote  some  statements  of  Mexi- 
cans made  when  the  revolution  was  at  its  height :  "The 
revolution  has  produced  an  awakening  in  our  people.  We 
have  seen  that  only  the  Gospel  can  make  Mexico  really 
free  and  happy".  "The  effect  of  the  revolution  on  our 
Evangelical  propaganda  is  going  to  be  greatly  favorable, 
and  already  this  is  noticeable  in  some  places  where  we 
have  been  able  to  convince  the  people  that  we  are  working 
to  secure  for  them  a  higher  liberty  than  mere  political 
rights."  "The  effect  produced  on  Protestant  work  by  the 
revolution  is  manifest  in  firm  convictions,  real  love  for 
country,  and  an  indestructable  faith  in  the  true  God." 
"The  present  revolution  has  produced  in  our  evangelical 
work  a  good  effect,  because  there  has  awakened  in  the 
people  a  spirit  of  investigation,  and  the  belief  that  they 
are  free."     "Those  who  have  pushed  our  religious  pro- 


122  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

paganda  have  gained  respect,  confidence,  and  sympathy, 
perhaps  more  than  ever  in  the  history  of  our  blessed  work. 
The  Mexican  Presbyterians  have  shown  by  their  civic  and 
religious  sentiments  that  they  are  worthy  of  their  denomi- 
national history." 

While  the  revolution  was  in  progress  some  of  the  min- 
isters expressed  their  view  as  to  the  final  results  as  fol- 
lows :  "I  expect  our  work  to  have  greater  success  on  ac- 
count of  the  revolution.  To-day  the  horizon  is  broader 
and  less  clouded,  because  from  now  on,  there  will  be  real 
democracy  and  we  can  by  our  work  and  by  our  example 
show  the  true  democracy.  It  was  hard  to  have  to  preach 
the  Gospel  without  having  democracy,  but  now  we  have 
the  liberty  to  do  so."  "I  believe  that  there  will  naturally 
result  a  more  rapid  development  of  the  Gospel.  I  say, 
naturally,  because  the  people  having  the  true  liberty  will 
be  more  easily  led  to  the  Fountain  of  Truth".  "For  us, 
a  day  of  greater  opportunity  has  surely  dawned ;  the  re- 
sult of  the  revolution  will  be  larger  liberality  and  the 
Word  will  have  free  course  and  be  glorified."  We  could 
continue  quoting  ministers  from  all  sections  of  Mexico, 
who  gave  expression  to  similar  sentiments.  "  That  their 
predictions  were  true  will  be  seen  from  the  following 
chapter. 

Not  Against  Religion  but  Against  its  Abuses. 
The  attitude  of  the  revolutionists  toward  the  Catholic 
Church  was  very  confusing.  The  Catholic  Church  claims 
ninety-nine  per  cent  of  the  Mexican  people;  therefore, 
according  to  their  own  statements,  practically  all  of  those 
who  were  leaders  in  the  movement  were  Catholics — Villa, 
Zapata,  Carranza,  Felix  Diaz,  and  all  the  rest.  And  yet 
much  was  said  during  those  days  about  the  persecutions 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  123 

of  the  Catholic  Church.  General  Antonio  Villarreal  issued 
a  decree  soon  after  taking  Monterrey  which  reads :  "In 
the  interest  of  puhlic  health,  morality  and  justice,  the  State 
of  Nuevo  Leon  will  limit  the  scope  of  the  Catholic 
Church."  When  Matamoros  was  taken,  the  military  au- 
thorities sent  word  to  the  priest,  that  he  would  have  only 
twenty-four  hours  to  cross  the  Rio  Grande.  He  did  not 
need  so  many.  The  convent  in  Matamoros  closed  and  was 
oflfered  to  our  Mission.  In  Mereda,  the  capital  of  Yuca- 
tan, there  were  a  hundred  priests  and  many  nuns  at  the 
beginning  of  the  revolution,  but  after  four  years  there 
were  only  five  priests  in  the  whole  state,  and  the  churches 
were  closed.  The  persecutions  became  so  intense  that  even 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church  appealed  to  the  United  States 
government  to  use  its  influence  to  establish  religious  tol- 
eration in  Mexico.  Protestants  everywhere  standing  for 
liberty  deplored  the  acts  of  violence  against  the  devotees 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith. 

This  attitude  towards  the  Catholics  might  have  been 
interpreted  as  indicating  that  the  Mexicans  were  opposed 
to  all  religion.  This  was  not  true.  At  the  very  time  of 
these  decrees  against  the  church,  and  just  when  they  were 
closing  up  the  churches,  the  leaders  were  talking  about  the 
feasibility  of  organizing  an  Independent  Mexican  Church. 
Some  of  them  talked  to  us  freely  of  their  plans.  Of 
course,  such  a  plan  was  doomed  to  failure,  but  it  showed 
that  they  were  not  opposed  to  religion  as  such.  Their 
attitude  toward  the  Protestant  churches  revealed  is  a  fur- 
ther proof.  When  they  were  closing  up  Catholic  Churches 
and  schools  they  were  urging  Protestants  to  keep  theirs 
open.  They  were  not,  and  are  not  now,  opposed  to  re- 
ligion. The  Catholic  Church  represented  to  them  an  in- 
fluence which,  by  its  silent,  hidden  power,  was  opposing 


124  Siircrise  in  Aztec  Land 

their  reform  movements.  The  Catholic  Church  took  the 
side  of  Huerta  against  the  Constitutional  party,  and  in 
their  sermons,  confessionals,  and  extensive  correspon- 
dence created  public  opinion  against  the  liberals.  The  Con- 
stitutionalists counted  the  Catholic  clergy  as  political  ene- 
mies, and  treated  them  as  such.  This  attitude  in  no  way 
indicated,  however,  that  they  were  opposed  to  all  re- 
ligion. 

Mexico's  Need  Emphasized.  The  attention  of  the 
whole  world  was  called  to  Mexico  during  those  tragic 
years,  and  the  heart  of  the  world  became  sympathetic. 
Mexico  was  ill  and  there  was  a  growing  desire  on  the  part 
of  the  people  of  the  world  to  help  cure  her  ills.  The 
sufferings  of  Mexico,  inevitable  consequences  of  the  war. 
touched  the  heart  of  the  world.  The  crimes  committed  by 
the  bandit  element  filled  the  pages  of  the  newspapers  of 
the  outside  world.  Christian  hearts  were  stirred  to  have 
a  share  in  training  the  next  generation  so  that  such  things 
should  not  occur  again.  The  border  raids  provoked  inter- 
national disturbances  and  animosity,  and  Mexico  was  con- 
sidered a  very  bad  neighbor ;  and  yet  those  who  thought 
deeply  enough  knew  that  the  American  people  were  not 
entirely  free  from  responsibility  for  the  condition  which 
makes  border  raids  possible. 

Even  while  Mexico  was  still  in  the  throes  of  her 
tragedy,  and  because  of  it,  in  large  part,  the  Christian 
people  of  the  United  States  began  plans  more  adequately 
to  supply  the  needs  which  had  been  made  so  emphatic.  A 
series  of  conferences  were  held  which  had  far-reaching 
effects,  both  on  our  own  work  and  that  of  other  churches 
in  Mexico. 


PART  TWO 

THE  DAWN 

{Continued) 
Chapter  VI. 


"The  signs  of  the  times,  the  lessons  of  the  past,  the 
indications  of  the  future,  the  call  of  Providence,  and  the 
voices  which  come  borne  to  us  by  every  breeze,  and  from 
every  nation  under  heaven,  all  alike  bid  us  lay  our  plans 
upon  a  scale  worthy  of  men  who  expect  to  conquer  a 
world." — Bishop  J.  M.  Thoburn. 


Chapter  Six 

ALL  SECTIONS  RECEIVING 
THE  LIGHT 

1919-1922 

I. 

A  Startling  Mission  Policy 

Conditions  Called  for  New  Plans.  Events  of  the 
first  magnitude  have  been  transpiring  in  our  own  times, 
events  which  are  affecting,  and  which  will  continue  to 
affect  to  a  larger  degree,  the  fifteen  millions  of  Mexicans, 
and  which  have  been  binding  them  into  intimate  relation- 
ships with  the  people  of  the  United  States. 

God  has  placed  the  two  countries  together  geographi- 
cally. It  will  be  an  international  calamity  if  the  religion 
of  Jesus  Christ  should  hold  anything  less  than  a  supreme 
place  in  these  international  relationships.  The  two  peo- 
ples are  drawing  together.  International  trade  excursions 
and  corporations,  pleasure  seekers,  scientific  congresses 
and  labor  conventions  are  all  contributing  factors  in  bring- 
ing for  better  or  for  worse,  the  people  of  these  two  coun- 
tries closer  together. 

Students  are  going  from  one  country  to  the  other  in 
increasing  numbers.  During  1921,  over  one  hundred  stu- 
dents and  teachers  from  the  United  States  spent  some 
weeks  in  Mexico  City,  taking  advantage  of  the  special 
courses  offered  in  the  University  of  Mexico  for  foreign 
students,  the  government  of  Mexico  giving  them  a  special 


Sujirisc  ill  Aztec  Land  127 

invitation  and  furnishing  free  transportation  from  the 
border  to  Mexico  City  and  return.  Over  four  hundred 
students  came  under  the  same  conditions  in  1922.  There 
are  in  American  schools  and  colleges  twenty  Mexican  stu- 
dents, the  American  institutions  providing  for  their  ex- 
pense. 

It  w^ill  not  be  v^ell,  either  for  Mexico  or  America,  if 
religion  does  not  occupy  the  central  place  in  these  closer 
relations.  Shall  partnership  and  mutual  profit  mark  busi- 
ness, while  aloofness  and  neglect  characterize  our  attitude 
in  the  higher  concerns  of  life?  Are  petroleum  wells, 
sugar  plantations,  hemp  fields,  orange  groves,  coffee  plan- 
tations, mines,  and  railroads  of  more  consequence  than 
the  end  for  which  Jesus  Christ  lived  and  died?  The 
period  in  which  trade  is  becoming  active  is  surely  not 
the  time  for  the  forces  of  Christianity  to  become  inactive. 

The  revolution  called  special  attention  to  the  needs  of 
Mexico,  and  the  Protestant  Churches  in  the  United  States 
stood  condemned  for  their  sins  of  omission.  Then  they 
began  to  take  stock  of  their  work  in  Mexico,  and  some 
very  searching  questions  were  raised.  At  least  two  things 
became  very  evident.  Far  too  little  had  been  done,  and  in 
doing  that  little  there  had  been  a  lack  of  economy  and  good 
iiianagcmcnt. 

There  have  been  held  a  series  of  conferences  since  1914 
which  have  been  attempts  at  correcting  the  errors  of  the 
past.  The  results  of  these  conferences  have  been  so  far 
reaching  in  their  effects  on  our  work  that  some  details  of 
them  should  be  given. 

The  Cincinnati  Conference.  The  first  of  these 
conferences  was  the  one  called  by  the  Committee  of  Co- 
operation in  Latin  America  at  Cincinnati  June  30,  1914. 


128  Suurise  in  Aztec  Land 

It  was  a  most  remarkable  conference.  The  presence  of 
so  many  missionaries  in  the  United  States,  on  account  of 
the  revolution  in  Mexico,  made  it  possible  for  a  great 
many  to  attend.  A  spirit  of  unity,  of  prayer,  of  hope  and 
of  courage  prevailed.  A  remarkable  spirit  of  readiness  to 
make  sacrifices  for  the  greater  good  of  Mexico  was  shown. 
Mission  agencies  ofifered  to  withdraw  from  sections  where 
they  had  been  working  for  many  years,  in  order  that  the 
Gospel  might  be  preached  throughout  Mexico.  Some  of 
the  things  proposed  were  a  Union  Press,  a  Union  Weekly 
Religious  Paper,  a  Union  College,  a  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  and  the  redistribution  of  territory. 

It  was  found  that  in  some  states  of  the  Republic  there 
was  one  missionary  to  every  twenty-three  thousand  people. 
In  other  states  there  was  not  a  single  resident  missionary. 
In  some  sections  two,  three,  or  even  four  churches  were 
working  in  the  same  territory,  while  in  other  sections  no 
church  had  work.  The  plan  did  not  propose  to  interfere 
with  the  organized  churches  in  the  field,  but  only  to  redis- 
tribute foreign  mission  territorial  responsibility. 

In  the  midst  of  the  discussion  of  the  redistribution  of 
territorial  responsibility,  Dr.  Speer  came  to  the  repre- 
sentatives of  our  Executive  Committee,  and  asked  if  our 
church  would  be  willing  to  give  up  our  work  in  Northern 
Mexico  to  go  to  Southern  Mexico  to  take  territory  adjoin- 
ing that  of  the  Northern  Presbyterian  Church. 

It  was  such  a  startling  proposition,  that  our  delegates 
were  hardly  prepared  for  it.  No  other  denomination  was 
being  asked  to  do  so  much.  Dr.  Speer  was  told  that,  if 
the  readjustment  could  be  made  in  no  other  way,  we 
would  move  as  a  last  resort.  It  was  felt,  also,  that  a 
question  of  such  importance  should  be  very  thoroughly 


Sunrise  in  Astcc  Land  129 

discussed  in  the  Executive  Committee  and  in  the  Mission. 
In  deference  to  our  request  we  were  left  in  our  old  field. 
But  it  was  understood  that  the  way  was  still  open  for  us 
to  change  if  that  should  prove  best.  Thus  the  matter 
stood  for  some  time. 

The  Panama  Congress.  The  Panama  Congress  gave 
a  new  impetus  to  mission  work  in  all  Latin  America. 
Some  wonderful  revelations  were  made.  Standing  out 
conspicuously  was  the  fact  that  there  were  strong  churches 
already  in  some  Latin  American  countries.  It  was  made 
very  evident,  also,  that  the  work  is  one.  In  all  these  coun- 
tries they  have  the  same  traditions,  and  philosophy.  All 
have  fought  similar  battles  for  liberty  and  practically  all 
have  one  language.  It  is  one  great  problem.  There  was 
revealed,  in  a  new  way,  the  ability  and  character  of  the 
Latin  Americans  who  are  Protestants.  There  are  now 
churches  with  strong  men  leading  them.  Another  thing 
that  was  made  very  evident  was  that  the  evangelization 
of  these  eighty  millions  is  a  tremendous  task,  and  there 
emerged  clearer  and  clearer  the  fact  that  the  churches 
must  co-operate  in  their  work.  Competition  must  cease. 
Over-lapping  must  end. 

At  the  Panama  Congress  the  country  that  pressed  for 
earliest  attention  was  Mexico.  The  following  resolution 
was  adopted :  "Leaving  the  question  of  the  reorganization 
and  realignment  of  the  Mexican  churches  in  abeyance  for 
the  time  being,  we  would  urge  the  missionary  boards  en- 
gaged in  work  in  Mexico,  in  the  administration  of  their 
work,  to  move  as  rapidly  as  possible  in  harmony  with  the 
suggestions  of  the  Cincinnati  Conference." 

Dr.  Speer  renewed  the  invitation  to  the  Southern  Pres- 
byterian Mission  to  join  the  Northern  Mission  forces  -in 


130  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

the  Southern  part  of  Mexico.  Some  conferences  were 
held  with  our  Mexican  delegates  regarding  a  possible  re- 
sponse to  that  invitation.  This  conference  still  left  the 
question  open,  but  from  that  time  on  there  was  a  growing 
sentiment  in  the  Mission  in  favor  of  such  a  move.  Be- 
fore that  year  closed  the  decision  was  made  to  move  as 
soon  as  possible. 

Conference  in  Mexico  City.  A  series  of  Regional 
Conferences  were  held  in  many  centers  following  the 
Panama  Congress.  The  one  in  Mexico  City  was  held  in 
March,  1917,  at  which  Dr.  E.  W.  Smith  represented  our 
Executive  Committee.  Fourteen  denominations  were  rep- 
resented, and  in  spite  of  disturbed  political  conditions,  this 
was  an  important  meeting.  A  splendid  spirit  of  co-oper- 
ation prevailed  in  the  Conference.  Again  the  proposals 
of  the  Conference  in  Cincinnati  were  endorsed,  but  could 
not  be  carried  out  in  full  on  account  of  the  political  con- 
ditions. The  matter  of  our  own  field  was  again  dis- 
cussed. The  greatest  accomplishment  at  that  conference 
was  the  perfecting  of  the  plans  for  the  opening  of  the 
Union  Evangelical  Seminary  of  Mexico.  This  Seminary 
was  opened  in  July,  19 17. 

The  Conference  in  Mexico  City  in  1919.  In  some 
respects,  the  most  important  conference  of  the  series,  was 
the  one  held  in  Mexico  City  in  February,  1919.  The 
significant  fact  of  this  conference  was  that  many  matters 
which  had  been  discussed  for  several  years  were  finally 
settled.  Dr.  S.  H.  Chester  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alfred 
Mason  represented  our  Executive  Committee  there,  and 
the  majority  of  our  missionaries  to  Mexico  were  present. 
The  Conferences  were  held  in  the  Chapel  of  the  Union 
Eavngelical  Seminary  of  Mexico  City.    There  prevailed  a 


Sunfise  in  Aztec  Land  131 

spirit  of  prayer,  of  unity,  of  courage,  and  of  hope.  The 
Union  Press  was  organized.  Further  plans  were  made 
toward  unifying  all  of  the  educational  work  of  the  Prot- 
estant forces. 

The  final  adjustment  of  territorial  responsibility  was 
made.  We  no  longer  hesitated,  but  accepted  our  respon- 
sibility in  the  large  field  assigned  to  us.  We  finally  de- 
cided to  give  up  the  field  which  we  had  been  cultivating 
for  nearly  fifty  years,  and  to  take  up  an  entirely  new 
work  in  another  section,  nearly  one  thousand  miles  away. 
The  move  was  not  made  hastily.  As  we  have  observed, 
when  it  was  first  proposed  the  Mission  did  not  agree  to  it. 
It  was  discussed  at  more  than  one  Mission  Meeting  and 
every  move  was  made  under  the  direction,  as  we  believe, 
of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

One  of  the  Reasons  for  the  Move  Was  That  We 
Might  Unite  in  One  Contiguous  Territory  the 
Presbyterian  Forces  of  Mexico.  Before  the  move,  we 
were  already  organized  in  one  Synod.  The  Northern 
Presbyterians  were  assigned  to  the  Southern  part  of  Mex- 
ico. For  our  Mission  to  remain  in  the  North  would  seem 
wide  separation. 

There  was  held  out  to  us  a  larger  opportunity  by  mak- 
ing the  move.  By  remaining  in  the  North,  we  would 
share  in  the  responsibility  of  giving  the  Gospel  to  less 
than  one  million  people  along  with  the  Friends  (Quakers), 
the  Associate  Reformed  Presbyterians,  and  the  Southern 
Methodists.  By  moving  to  the  field  assigned  to  us  in  the 
South  we  would  have  a  field  entirely  our  own,  and  con- 
taining a  population  of  2,125,000.  It  may  be  added  that 
we  moved  because  we  did  not  have  much  property  in  the 


132 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 


North,  and  was  easier  for  us  to  move  than  other  churches 
having  large  holdings. 

The  move  would  mean  great  sacrifice  to  us.  Our  friends 
would  be  left  behind ;  the  associations,  so  dear,  would  l^e 
given  up ;  the  work  which  had  been  fostered,  and  which 
had  made  such  good  progress  would  1)e  abandoned.  Many 
things  made  it  hard  to  leave,  but  for  the  sake  of  a  re- 
deemed Mexico,  we  gladly  fell  in  with  the  plan. 

While  we  were  making  our  move,  other  Missions  were 
doing  likewise,  each  accepting  their  responsibility  for  their 
new  assignments,  and  making  plans  for  the  evangelization 
of  its  part.  There  is  the  joy  of  fellowship  with  one 
another  in  the  different  union  enterprises,  but  in  the  special 
fields,  each  Mission  is  alone  in  forwarding  the  work,  doing 
its  share  to  give  the  Gospel  to  all  Mexico,  thus  carrying 
out  what  has  been  called  "the  most  inclusive  co-opcratire 
program  that  has  ever  been  outlined  by  Christian  forces 
for  any  nation." 


Sawmill  in  Mexico 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  133 

II. 

Into  New  Fields 

Bidding  Farewell.  Two  dates  are  memorable  in  the 
history  of  the  Presbytery  of  TaumaHpas,  April  21.  1884, 
when  it  was  organized,  and  April  i6,  1919,  thirty-five 
years  later,  when  the  meeting  was  held  at  which  the  mis- 
sionaries and  Mexican  Ministers  said  goodby.  Rev.  Lean- 
dro  Garza  Mora  was  Moderator  of  both  of  these  meetings. 
The  principal  question  in  the  hearts  of  all  was  the  future 
of  the  work  as  the  Missions  withdrew  to  the  new  fields. 
Every  prayer  of  the  Mexican  ministers  reflected  this  as 
the  burden  of  their  hearts.  The  Presbytery  had  been 
advised  that  the  day  of  separation  was  coming.  They 
had  been  thinking  and  praying  over  it.  The  plans  that 
had  been  worked  out  in  the  series  of  Conferences  gave  to 
organized  churches  the  privilege  of  continuing  in  their 
own  denomination.  The  Presbytery  of  Taumalipas,  mak- 
ing use  of  this  privilege,  decided  to  remain,  and  to  carry 
on  the  Presbyterian  work.  During  the  entire  meeting,  in 
the  sermons,  in  the  devotional  exercises,  and  in  the  dis- 
cussions of  self-support,  there  was  manifested  an  earnest 
spirit  of  determination  to  "carry  on."  This  determination 
gave  mutual  encouragement  for  the  time  when  the  entire 
support  should  fall  on  the  Mexicans  themselves.  It  was 
an  act  which  required  great  faith,  and  in  undertaking  it, 
we  were  reminded  of  the  time  when  Dr.  Chalmers  called 
out  the  Free  Church  in  Scotland  to  face  similar  respon- 
sibilities. 

At  the  last  session  letters  were  exchanged  between  the 
Mission  and  the  Presbytery.  The  following  is  an  extract 
from  the  Mission  letter : 


134  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

"The  Executive  Committee,  together  with  other  Boards 
of  Missions,  beheves  that  it  is  for  the  good  of  the  Church 
of  Christ  and  for  the  speedy  evangehzation  of  Mexico, 
that  each  denomination  assume  the  responsibiHty  for  the 
evangehzation  of  a  certain  part  of  Mexico,  according  to 
the  Cincinnati  plan,  reformed,  and  adopted  in  Mexico 
City  in  February  of  the  present  year. 

"The  Committee,  therefore,  before  the  other  churches 
assumes  the  responsibiHty  for  the  evangehzation  of  the 
States  of  Michoacan,  Guerrero,  and  a  part  of  the  States 
of  Mexico  and  Morelos. 

"Upon  separating  from  this  field,  we  desire  to  manifest 
our  profound  gratitude  to  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  that, 
in  His  Providence,  He  allowed  us  to  begin  our  missionary 
work  in  this  field ;  and  at  the  same  time  express  our  deep 
gratitude  and  very  special  affection  for  the  Presbytery  of 
Taumalipas  and  for  each  of  the  members  in  particular,  for 
the  many  considerations  and  tokens  of  love  which  have 
always  been  shown  to  us.  We  assure  you.  Brethren,  that 
we  will  always  have  a  special  interest  in  the  work  of  this 
field  and  will  pray  for  you,  as  we  beseech  you  that  you 
will  do  for  us." 

An  extract  from  the  letter  of  the  Presbytery  follows : 

"It  is  exceedingly  painful  to  us  to  think  of  your  sepa- 
ration, for  we  feel  that  you  are  leaving  in  our  souls  a  va- 
cancy hard  to  fill,  and  for  years,  the  remembrance  of  you 
will  remain  in  our  memory  as  one  of  the  most  sacred 
associations  of  our  life. 

"We  feel  an  immense  debt  of  gratitude  for  the  financial 
aid  that  for  so  many  years  you  have  given  to  this  field,  and 
we  raise  fervent  petitions  to  God,  that  you  may  be  richly 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  135 

blessed  in  your  service,  and  that  the  Lord  may  shower 
upon  you  His  richest  favor,  prospering  you  in  your  work 
in  every  particular. 

"Good  Bye !  Noble  and  Holy  Mission  of  the  Southern 
Presbyterian  Church.  May  God  go  with  you  and  bless 
you.    The  Presbytery  of  Taumalipas." 

Some  Nineteen  Twenty-two  Models.  The  Execu- 
tive Committee  showed  that  they  meant  business  when 
they  accepted  the  New  Field  in  the  South  by  sending  our 
fourteen  new  missionaries  to  share  in  the  great  task. 
Think  what  that  means !  For  ten  years  the  number  had 
stood  at  eleven,  then  it  suddenly  jumped  up  to  twenty- 
five. 

Since  Dr.  J.  W.  Graybill,  brother  of  our  pathfinder,  was 
forced  to  give  up  his  work  on  account  of  the  ill  health  of 
Mrs,  Graybill,  we  had  had  no  medical  missionary — neither 
doctor  nor  nurse.  Now  we  have  both.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Coppedge  came  to  us  from  Africa.  What  was  Africa's 
loss  was  Mexico's  gain.  Mr.  Bedinger  in  his  book,  "The 
Triumphs  of  the  Gospel  in  the  Belgian  Congo,"  says :  "In 
1906,  Dr.  L.  J.  Coppedge  went  out.  He  coped  single 
handed  for  nine  years  with  witch  doctors  and  in  all  gave 
twelve  years  of  devoted  skilful  service  to  the  cause.  His 
unselfish  service  to  the  State  Officers,  traders,  and  unfor- 
tunate victims  of  sleeping  sickness  won  deserving  recog- 
nition from  His  Majesty,  King  Albert,  who  made  him  a 
Chevalier  of  the  Royal  Order  of  the  Lion."  Mrs.  Wray 
had  prepared  herself  for  special  medical  work  and  has 
already  shown  unusual  capabilities  in  her  line.  Miss 
Southerland  is  a  registered  nurse. 


136  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

Mexico  is  now  passing  through  a  great  social  upheaval. 
Those  who  were  down-trodden  yesterday,  now  feel  their 
strength.  There  is  danger  that  the  pent-up  feelings  of 
centuries  find  expression,  anarchy  and  godlessness  sweep- 
ing the  country  into  destruction.  We  need  centers  where 
men  can  meet  and  discuss  problems  of  life  under  the 
direction  of  those  who  solve  them  according  to  the  teach- 
ings of  the  Carpenter  of  Galilee,  who  knew  the  hardships 
of  the  toilers. 

We  can  with  courage  face  the  new  conditions  in  Mexico 
with  the  presence  of  Mr.  Wray.  He  saw  service  for  his 
country  in  France,  and  was  hardened  for  his  present  big- 
ger task  of  establishing  a  Christian  center  where  the  peo- 
ple can  discuss  their  problems  and  come  to  know  God. 

We  have  always  emphasized  day  schools  in  our  Mis- 
sion. These  have  been  under  the  general  supervision  of 
the  evangelistic  missionaries,  each  looking  after  the  schools 
in  his  own  field.  But  evangelists  are  not  trained  to  super- 
vise schools.  A  great  deal  of  motion  is  lost.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Farrior  have  come  to  Mexico  to  supervise  the  day 
schools.  Our  dream  is  a  system  of  day  schools  doing 
effective  work  for  the  multitudes  of  children  committed 
to  our  care.  Mr.  Farrior  saw  service  in  the  Marine  Corps 
during  the  World  War  and  brings  with  him  the  spirit 
of  the  soldier. 

There  must  be  a  connecting  link  between  the  day  schools 
and  the  schools  at  Coyoacan  and  San  Angel.  This  con- 
necting link  is  the  high  school  in  Zitacuaro,  and  Miss 
Lettie  Beaty  has  been  assigned  to  this  fruitful  task.  She, 
too,  will  light  torches. 

To  be  apostles  to  the  waiting  multitudes,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lewis,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williamson  and  Mr.  Murray  went 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Laud  137 

to  Mexico  to  live  and  preach  the  Gospel  of  the  Son  of 
God.  Both  Mr.  Williamson  and  Mr.  Murray  are  mem- 
bers of  the  American  Legion,  Mr.  Williamson  who  served 
in  the  Medical  Department  of  the  American  Army,  and 
Mr.  Murray  who  saw  service  in  France.  Both  are  now 
soldiers  in  a  better  warfare. 

Some  General  Features  of  Our  New  Field.  The 
move,  from  the  Northeastern  part  of  the  Mexico  on  the 
Gylf  to  the  Southwestern  part  on  the  Pacific,  brought  us 
into  a  large  and  beautiful  country.  We  have  all  of  the 
State  of  Michoacan  with  its  22,656  square  miles  and 
991,880  people;  all  of  the  State  of  Guerrero  with  its 
24,998  square  miles  and  594,278  people;  one-half  of  the 
State  of  Mexico  with  our  share  of  4,070  square  miles  and 
467,059  people;  and  two-thirds  of  the  State  of  Morelos, 
with  our  share  of  680  square  miles  and  72,741  people.  In 
all,  an  area  of  52,503  square  miles  and  2,125,958  people. 

We  may  compare  our  new  field  with  Georgia,  North 
Carolina,  or  Arkansas.  It  has  about  the  same  territory 
and  population  as  any  one  of  these  states.  A  large  and 
inviting  task !  Look  at  the  map.  We  are  down  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Mexico  City  and  that  means  much. 
Everything  in  Mexico  centers  in  the  capital  city,  where 
Evangelical  churches  have  made  their  great  center  for 
Union  work.  Already  the  Union  Theological  Seminary 
and  the  Union  Press  and  Book  Depository  are  in  opera- 
tion. There  is  planned  a  union  hospital  for  Mexico  City 
and  a  Christian  university.  Our  Mission  is  associated  with 
the  Northern  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  school  for  boys 
at  Coyoacan  and  the  school  for  girls  at  San  Angel,  both 
located  near  Mexico  City.  It  will  be  seen  at  once,  what 
great  benefit  we  are  receiving  by  being  near  these  centers. 


138  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

Our  workers  can  take  advantage  of  special  courses  offered 
in  the  institutions.  Frequent  conferences  are  held  in  Mex- 
ico City.  We  thank  God  for  this  good  location  of  our 
field. 

As  a  detailed  study  will  show,  our  section  abounds  in 
historic  interest  and  we  are  lined  up  with  the  past.  It  is 
a  country  of  surpassingly  beautiful  scenery.  It  shares 
with  other  sections  in  an  abounding  but  undeveloped  nat- 
ural wealth.  It  is  a  section  with  soil  which  has  been  en- 
riched by  the  blood  of  Christian  martyrs.  In  this  field 
there  are  twenty-two  cities  of  over  five  thousand  each,  four 
of  which  are  capital  cities :  Morelia,  a  clean  and  attractive 
city  of  forty  thousand,  the  capital  of  Michoacan ;  Toluca, 
a  city  of  thirty  thousand,  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Mex- 
ico ;  Cuernavaca,  noted  for  its  beauty,  the  capital  of  More- 
los ;  and  Chilpanciugo,  rich  in  historic  interest,  the  capital 
of  Guerrero. 

ZiTACUARO.  The  first  large  center  occupied  was  Zita- 
cuaro.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  H.  L.  Ross  and  Miss  Beaty  are 
there,  and  are  finding  it  a  field  ready  for  the  reaping. 
There  are  sweet  memories  of  faithful  missionaries  who 
have  gone  before.  The  Northern  Presbyterians  had  been 
working  there  for  many  years  and  had  established  in  all 
of  that  section  a  most  interesting  work,  "education"  being 
the  key  word.  Every  year,  there  are  a  dozen  or  more 
boys  in  the  Coyoacan  college  and  a  like  number  of  girls 
in  the  San  Angel  Normal  School,  from  that  section.  In 
such  an  atmosphere,  it  has  been  comparatively  easy  to 
build  up  a  school  for  girls.  It  was  for  this  reason  that 
Miss  Beaty  was  sent  there.  There  are  numbers  of  towns 
and  villages  around  Zitacuaro  with  schools  and  preaching 
places.    Mr.  Ross  tells  of  one  of  these  which  will  serve  as 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  139 

an  example  of  many  others.  "One  of  the  most  unique 
communities  that  I  have  visited  in  Mexico  is  Santa  Cruz. 
The  uniqueness  of  the  community  consists  in  the  fact  that 
it  is  almost  entirely  Protestant.  I  was  told  that  the  Ro- 
man Catholic  Priest  has  not  held  mass  there  for  twenty- 
two  years.  The  wood-work  of  the  interior  of  the  Catholic 
church  is  deteriorating  and  in  a  dilapidated  condition ;  the 
old  confessional  is  overturned  and  broken.  I  could  learn 
of  only  three  Roman  Catholics  in  the  community,  while 
our  young  ministerial  student  out  there  had  a  list  of  two 
hundred  and  forty-four  Protestants,  including  baptized 
children.  There  were  over  three  hundred  present  at  the 
Christmas  exercises. 

"About  fifty  years  ago  an  Englishman,  James  Pascoe, 
came  into  this  part  of  the  country  as  a  mining  engineer. 
He  left  the  country  after  a  few  years,  but  he  had  found 
a  richer  mine,  and  in  1878  returned  as  an  independent 
missionary  and  preached  for  ten  years.  This  peaceful 
Christian  community  can  largely  be  traced  to  his  efforts." 

Mrs.  Ross  tells  of  the  day  she  and  Mr.  Ross  spent  at 
Silva,  a  village  nestled  at  the  base  of  Cacique  (Indian 
Chief)  a  peak  which  lifts  its  head  ten  thousand  feet 
above  the  sea.  Here  in  the  homes  of  the  people  they 
spent  the  day  looking  in  on  the  work  of  the  "Pastor- 
layman,"  who  had  led  the  people  to  build  a  chapel  during 
the  few  months  that  he  has  been  there.  After  dinner, 
served  "a  la  Mexicana,"  they  met  in  the  chapel  for  the 
service  of  the  day.  It  had  been  beautified  by  green 
boughs,  wild  roses,  and  wreaths  of  oleander.  The  service 
began  at  three  o'clock  and  eighty  per-sons  were  present. 
A  short  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Pastor  from  Zita- 
cuaro,  after  which  the  elder  scame  forward  for  ordina- 


140  Sunrise  in  Aatcc  Laud 

tion.  They  were  crude  and  comparatively  ignorant,  but 
they  were  men  of  native  intelligence  and  wisdom.  Tears 
were  in  the  eyes  of  one  of  them  as  he  spoke  to  his  friends 
of  the  obligations  of  his  new  office.  When  he  finished 
speaking,  members  of  the  dififerent  church  committees 
rose  and  gave  reports  of  their  work,  and  their  simple 
earnestness  was  very  refreshing.  Most  of  them  were 
stolid  Indian  men  and  women,  clad  in  a  wild  variety  of 
garments,  but  God's  grace  had  touched  them  and  their 
faces  shone  with  joy  as  they  sang  the  hymns  which  have 
meant  so  much  to  Christians  in  all  lands  and  in  all  ages. 
What  wonder  is  it  that  they  ask  for  many  hymns  about 
heaven,  and  like  to  think  of  the  many  robes  of  righteous- 
ness for  their  glorified  bodies? 

One  attractive  feature  of  the  work  is  the  bi-monthly 
conference  with  all  of  these  workers.  Nothing  has  so 
much  bound  the  workers  together,  and  has  so  much  con- 
tributed to  the  progress  of  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer 
in  all  of  that  part  of  our  great  field  in  Mexico,  as  has  these 
gatherings  where  every  phase  of  the  work  is  discussed  and 
where  plans  are  made  for  enlargement. 

The  State  of  Michoacan  is  one  of  the  largest  and  rich- 
est states  in  Mexico.  "Mexico  is  the  paradise  of  the 
world,  Michoacan  is  the  paradise  of  Mexico,  and  Urua- 
pan  is  the  paradise  of  Michoacan"  is  what  they  say  in 
Uruapan,  one  of  the  cities  of  the  state.  Zitacuaro  is  in 
this  state.  This  state  is  the  home  of  the  Tarascan  In- 
dians, one  of  the  six  ancient  tribes  which  attained  to  a 
considerable  degree  of  culture.  Many  groups  of  these 
Indians  are  still  there,  speaking  their  own  language  and 
observing  their  ancient  customs.  The  capital  city,  More- 
lia,  dates  its  founding  to  the  early  Spanish  period.     The 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Laud  141 

present  Cathedral,  one  of  the  largest  and  handsomest  in 
the  country,  was  begun  in  1706  and  completed  in  1840. 
There  have  been  patriots  connected  with  the  history  of 
Morelia.  We  have  seen  the  house  in  which  Morelos  was 
born  in  1765,  and  another  in  which  Iturl)ide  was  born 
in  1783.  The  main  plaza  is  called  the  Martyrs,  in  honor  of 
a  company  of  patriots  who  were  executed  there,  one  of 
whom  was  Matamoros,  noted  in  the  history  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  Mexico. 

Rev.  and  Mrs.  Shelby,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Coppedge,  Dr. 
Fossey  and  Miss  Southerland  are  the  missionaries  in 
Morelia,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Shelby  being  the  pioneers.  Our 
interest  there  centers  in  the  Hospital,  which  was  the  first 
Presbyterian  hospital  in  Mexico  and  deserves  a  warm 
place  in  our  hearts.  Other  denominations  have  demon- 
strated in  other  parts  of  Mexico  the  inestimable  value  of 
well-equipped  hospitals.  Enough  cannot  be  said  of  this 
chivalrous  service  of  science  to  the  souls  of  the  people. 

For  a  population  of  2,125,000  in  our  field,  there  are 
perhaps  not  more  than  35  graduate  Mexican  doctors.  Here 
is  an  inviting  opportunity,  and  we  are  making  a  small  be- 
ginning toward  meeting  it.  The  results  of  ignorance  con- 
cerning sanitation  and  hygiene  are  appalling.  Many  peo- 
ple suffer  from  preventable  diseases.  There  are  multi- 
tudes of  quack  doctors,  many  of  them  playing  on  the 
religious  superstitions  of  the  people.  The  physical  con- 
dition of  Mexican  women  and  children  especially  enlists 
the  sympathy  of  the  Christian  missionary.  The  sufferings 
of  mothers,  the  needless  illness,  the  appalling  sacrifice  of 
infant  life,  the  unchecked  prevalence  of  dirt  and  disease 
are  visible  signs  of  the  deep  physical  needs  of  Mexican 
homes. 


142  Sunrise  hi  Aztec  Land 

Our  territory  extends  from  the  insalubrious  port  of 
Acapulco  up  to  the  noted  health  resort  of  Cuernavaca,  and 
on  to  Toluca  the  highest  capital  in  the  Republic,  8.769  feet 
above  sea  level.  In  all  of  these  different  temperatures 
are  to  be  found  diseases  similar  to  those  at  home,  besides 
some  peculiar  to  Mexico :  Malaria  with  its  accompanying 
maladies,  Pinto,  a  disease  peculiar  to  Guerrero,  pneu- 
monia, typhus,  typhoid,  smallpox  and  tuberculosis.  Dis- 
eases of  the  eye  and  skin  are  common.  Celsus,  writing 
in  the  first  century,  said,  "All  men  of  learning  and  almost 
all  dwellers  in  large  cities  suffer  with  their  stomachs." 
In  Mexico,  all  men,  learned  or  unlearned,  and  dwelling  in 
and  out  of  large  cities,  suffer  with  their  stomachs.  The 
hospitals  established  by  the  state  are  so  poorly  equipped 
that  a  Mexican  woman  in  our  field  once  said  to  the  mis- 
sionary, "I  thank  God  that  none  of  my  people  have  ever 
been  taken  to  jail  or  to  a  hospital."  Multitudes  of  the 
poorer  classes  suffer  and  die  with  no  medical  attention. 
Those  who  survive,  suffer  on,  their  malnutrition  and  low- 
ered vitality  laying  the  foundation  for  low  efficiency  in 
mental  operations,  which  means  stagnation  of  the  soul. 
Christ  gave  us  an  example  in  His  ministry  of  healing  both 
the  bodies  and  the  souls  of  the  people,  and  there  is  no 
finer  way  in  which  the  message  of  the  Son  of  Man  can  be 
brought  into  lives  that  are  dark  with  sin  and  disease  than 
the  kindly  ministrations  of  the  Christian  physician  and 
nurse. 

The  hospital  in  the  fanatical  city  of  Morelia  will  be  a 
wonderful  agency  to  win  the  people  to  the  Gospel.  It  is 
in  a  beautiful  section  of  the  city.  There,  by  song 'and 
Gospel  story  and  skilful  service,  the  truth  of  Christ  will 
make  the  people  free.  Into  multitudes  of  villages  the 
word  will  pass  that  Protestants  are  not  infidels  and  ene- 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  143 

mies  of  God  and  man,  but  that  they  are  tender,  godly,  and 
compassionate. 

The  Church  in  Morelia  has  a  Mexican  pastor,  who,  with 
Mr.  Shelby,  is  opening  up  a  number  of  the  surrounding 
towns.  This  city  was  opened  to  the  Gospel  by  the  South- 
ern Methodist  Mission  years  ago.  We  bought  from  that 
Board  a  chapel  in  the  center  of  the  city,  almost  under  the 
shadow  of  the  magnificent  cathedral. 

In  the  State  of  Michoacan  there  are  important  cities. 
Uruapan  and  Zamora  are  cities  to  be  occupied  as  Mission 
Stations,  just  as  soon  as  we  have  the  force.  Uruapan 
is  in  one  of  the  most  fertile  and  well-watered  sections  of 
Mexico  and  has  been  chosen  as  one  of  the  best  possible 
places  for  one  of  the  agricultural  schools. 

Toluca  is  the  capital  of  the  State  of  Mexico.  With  the 
city  situated  on  a  high  plateau  and  the  snow-capped  peaks 
in  the  distance  still  higher,  and  the  extensive  Valley  lying 
between  the  whole  panorama  is  picturesque  in  extreme. 

From  the  mountains  outside  of  Toluca  can  be  seen 
more  than  ninety  villages.  This  Toluca  Valley  with  its 
towns  and  villages  offers  one  of  the  most  attractive  op- 
portunities in  all  of  our  field,  on  account  of  its  compact- 
ness. A  large  part  of  it  can  be  reached  by  automobile. 
The  call  from  martyr's  blood  adds  to  the  urgency.  The 
Northern  Presbyterians  and  the  Southern  Methodists 
have  had  work  there  for  many  years,  and  from  both  we 
have  bought  property. 

About  thirty  miles  from  Toluca  is  the  quaint  Indian 
village,  Santa  Maria  Tlalmimilolpan.  To  this  day  their 
ancient  language,  Otomi,  is  the  speech  used  in  daily  inter- 
course.   They  have  always  been  very  religious,  and  during 


144  Simrisc  in  Aztec  Laud 

the  days  before  the  Gospel  reached  their  valley,  their  re- 
ligious enthusiasm  came  to  a  climax  when,  year  by  year, 
they  made  their  pilgrimages  to  an  image  forty  miles  away. 
The  leader  of  these  pilgrimages,  Regino  \'asquez,  was  one 
day  making  preparations  for  this  annual  religious  event, 
even  trying  to  sell  two  burros  to  help  with  the  expenses, 
when  a  good  friend,  the  priest  in  a  neighboring  village, 
said  to  him,  "Son,  why  do  you  make  the  sacrifice  in  sell- 
ing your  burros  to  go  to  see  a  stick  of  wood  ?"  He  was 
still  more  surprised  when  the  priest  gave  him  a  Bible, 
saying,  "The  Bible  is  the  Truth.  The  church  teaches 
error.  I  do  not  preach  the  truth  because  the  church  for- 
bids me.  I  exercise  my  functions  as  priest  because  this  is 
the  only  way  I  have  to  live,  but  you  can  work." 

Vasquez  received  the  rich  treasure  and  began  to  study 
it.  He  did  not  go  on  the  pilgrimage  that  year  and  even 
induced  some  of  his  friends  not  to  go.  During  the  next 
four  years  he  showed  that  his  Christianity  was  of  a 
militant  type  for,  year  by  year,  as  the  time  for  the  hegira 
came  round  he  would  arm  some  of  his  friends  and  even 
called  on  the  authorities  to  furnish  him  with  soldiers  to 
keep  the  people  from  going  to  the  Image  of  Chalma.  The 
people,  by  nature  submissive,  accepted  their  fate  and  gave 
up  their  idols.  The  Gospel  began  doing  its  blessed  work 
and  there  was  soon  a  company  of  believers.  The  South- 
ern Methodists  sent  them  a  minister,  a  church  was  organ- 
ized and  a  chapel  built  and  this  is  now  one  of  our  most 
important  centers  in  the  Toluca  Valley,  where  we  have 
both  a  church  and  a  day  school. 

Capulhuac.  Another  one  of  these  "ninety  towns"  has 
a  history  worthy  of  note.  In  Capulhuac  we  walk  on 
sacred  ground.     Some  of   the  people  of   this  town  ac- 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  145 

cepted,  secretly  at  first,  the  evangelical  literature  which 
was  sent  to  them  from  Mexico  City  by  some  earnest  men 
who  were  studying  the  Bible,  even  before  missionaries 
were  sent  from  the  United  States.  In  1870  they  openly 
declared  their  faith  and  organized  themselves  into  a  self- 
governing  body,  appointing  from  among  their  numl^er 
those  who  should  preach. 

The  second  person  on  whom  this  honor  fell,  Nicanor 
Gomes,  was  destined  to  receive  greater  honors.  He  was 
to  join  the  ranks  of  those  immortals  who  wear  a  martyr's 
crown.  For  seven  years,  the  fires  of  persecution  raged 
against  the  Christians.  The  climax  came  during  holy 
week,  in  1873.  It  was  the  occasion  of  the  first  baptism. 
It  turned  into  a  baptism  of  blood.  The  minister  was  Rev. 
Primitivo  Rodriguez  who  had  gone  out  from  Mexico 
City.  During  the  service  men  of  the  lower  classes,  in 
their  fanaticism  had  purposely  gotten  drunk.  They  were 
restrained  from  attacking  the  worshippers  during  the 
service  only  by  the  fidelity  of  the  Judge.  But  when  the 
service  closed  the  crowd  became  unruly,  and  the  faithful 
were  forced  to  flee  for  their  lives  to  a  neighboring  village. 
Seven  of  the  number  were  wounded  and  one  killed.  They 
were  received  into  the  homes  of  the  better  classes,  and 
were  thus  protected  from  the  mob  which  had  grown  to 
seven  hundred  infuriated  men,  calling  for  the  blood  of 
the  Christians.  God  protected  the  Christians,  and  during 
the  next  few  days  they  began  leaving  the  village  by  twos, 
going  to  the  mountains  where  they  remained  until  the  fury 
of  the  mob  quieted. 

During  those  seven  years,  another  persecution  took 
place  which  has  added  to  the  glory  of  the  history  of  the 
Evangelical  Church  in  Mexico.    This  was  the  occasion  of 


146  Sunrise  in  Astcc  Land 

the  dedication  of  the  chapel  on  Almoloya  del  Rio,  a  vil- 
lage near  Capulhuac.  The  Gospel  was  extending  its  in- 
fluence under  the  leadership  of  Nicanor  Gomez,  who  had 
been  chosen  as  the  second  preacher.  All  "the  faithful" 
of  Capulhuac  and  of  the  other  villages  were  assembled  in 
the  new  chapel  for  the  dedication.  During  the  service  the 
parish  priest  denounced  the  Protestants,  and  the  people, 
mad  with  passion,  rushed  from  the  Catholic  church  on 
that  Sabbath  morning  to  the  church  where  Don  Nicanor 
and  his  loyal  band  were  assembled.  The  Protestants  tried 
to  reach  their  homes  in  safety,  but  on  the  way  Don  Ni- 
canor was  stoned.  He  was  carried  to  his  home  and  died 
in  a  few  days.  His  son,  who  still  lives,  and  who  tells  the 
story,  said  his  last  words  were,  "Father,  forgive  them, 
for  they  know  not  what  they  do."  But  God  makes  the 
wrath  of  man  to  praise  him.  The  minister  in  Toluca,  Rev. 
James  Pascoe,  with  an  armed  guard  furnished  by  the 
authorities,  went  to  Capulhuac,  so  that  the  enemies  were 
afraid  to  openly  continue  their  persecutions. 

The  babe  who  was  baptized  on  the  occasion  of  the  first 
outbreak  grew  into  young  womanhood,  graduated  from 
the  Presbyterian  Normal  School  in  Mexico  City  and  has 
for  years  taught  in  the  Evangelical  School  in  Capulhuac. 
It  would  be  hard  to  find  a  small  place  in  all  Mexico  which 
has  sent  into  the  ministry  a  larger  number  of  her  sons : 
Nicanor  Gomez  the  Martyr,  Felipe  Reyes,  Nestor  Gomez, 
Bruno  Gowey,  Guerrero  Reyes,  Eulogio  Gomez,  Abram 
Gomez,  Martyr  of  Aguacatitlan  Guerrero.  All  these  are 
of  the  first  generation,  some  of  whom  have  fallen  asleep. 
Those  of  the  present  generation  are  Santiago  Gomez,  Juan 
Pascoe,  Franck  Pascos,  Nicanor  Gomez,  Jonas  Gomez. 
There  are  now  in  the  Theological  Seminary  Gamaliel  Go- 
mez and  Daniel  Galvan.     The  larger  number  of  this  re- 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  147 

markable  list  are  sons  and  grandsons  of  the  Martyr.  Surely 
"the  blood  of  the  martyrs  is  the  seed  of  the  church."  The 
young  women  have  not  been  behind  their  brothers  in 
placing  themselves  at  the  disposal  of  the  Master.  Others 
have  followed  the  example  of  Senorita  Sara  Vega,  the 
first  babe  baptized.  Some  are  gracing  Christian  homes 
and  are  training  their  children  in  the  faith  for  which  their 
fathers  died. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wray  and  Mr.  Murray  are  having  the 
privilege  of  living  and  teaching  the  Gospel  in  this  great 
center  of  some  two  hundred  thousand  people.  One  of  our 
best  churches  in  all  Mexico  is  in  Toluca.  The  pastor,  Rev. 
Ezequial  Fernandez,  is  one  of  three  brothers  who  are 
ministers,  while  two  of  his  sisters  are  wives  of  ministers. 
His  wife  is  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Eduardo  Carrero  who,  it 
will  be  remembered,  was  the  second  student  for  the  min- 
istry under  Dr.  Graybill.  Here  we  have  Apostolic  suc- 
cession. Their  ten  children  give  promise  of  handing  to 
coming  generations  their  holy  faith.  Their  oldest  son, 
Eduardo,  named  for  his  grandfather,  during  a  recent 
meeting  when  volunteers  for  the  ministry  were  called  for, 
responded  to  the  call.  It  is  wonderful  how  God  honors 
those  who  honor  Him. 

CuERNAVACA.  There  could  hardly  be  imagined  a  more 
interesting  journey,  so  far  as  natural  beauty  is  concerned, 
than  the  one  from  Mexico  City  to  Cuernavaca.  The  ride 
out  of  Mexico  City,  up  the  mountain  side,  gives  a  per- 
fect view  of  the  famous  valley  of  Mexico.  The  train 
makes  its  tortuous  way  around  and  up  through  the  lava 
beds,  most  of  the  way  under  the  shadow  of  an  extinct 
volcano  rising  several  thousand  feet  above  the  valley. 
Glimpses,  now  and  then,  of  Popocatepetl  and  Iztaccihuatl, 


148  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

looking  down  from  their  dizzy  heights  of  seventeen  thou- 
sand feet,  add  to  the  grandeur  of  the  scene.  After  an 
altitude  of  ten  thousand  feet  is  reached,  the  journey  be- 
gins its  descent  into  Morelos  Valley.  This  presents  one 
continuous  scene  of  rugged  mountains  and  peaceful  valleys 
with  growing  crops.  This  journey  is  of  special  interest 
to  Southern  Presbyterians  for  it  leads  us  into  another 
great  section  of  our  field. 

The  first  place  of  importance  is  Cuernavaca.  the  capital 
of  the  state  of  Morelos.  This  city,  with  its  famous  gar- 
dens of  terraced  slopes,  cascades,  and  fountains  with  its 
splendid  views  of  Popocatepetl  (The  Smoky  Mountain) 
and  Iztaccihuatl  (Lady  in  White),  is  noted  the  world 
round  for  its  beauty.  With  a  perfect  climate,  an  ideal 
altitude,  fruits  and  vegetables  to  suit  all  tastes,  gorgeous 
flowers  both  temperate  and  tropical,  it  is  no  small  wonder 
that  Cortez,  Maximillian,  Diaz,  foreigners  and  Mexicans 
alike,  have  chosen  Cuernavaca  as  a  health  resort.  The 
capitol  is  the  ancient  home  of  Cortez.  Just  outside  the 
city  is  the  winter  home  of  Maximillian. 

The  Southern  Methodists  had  work  in  Cuernavaca  for 
many  years,  and  we  inherited  from  them  a  splendid  piece 
of  property.  This  city  was  left  to  the  destroying  Zapa- 
tistas for  three  years,  and  little  more  than  l)are  walls  were 
found  when  the  Government  troops  entered.  The  people 
are  now  returning  to  their  former  homes,  and  are  val- 
iantly re-building  their  city.  They  present  just  such  a 
picture  as  Christ  looked  on  when  He  beheld  the  multi- 
tudes which  followed  Him  in  Galilee.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lewis,  with  a  Mexican  minister  and  his  wife  and  a  teacher, 
are  gathering  together  the  Protestants  and  others  giving 
to  them  the  bread  of  life.     They  are  having  the  joy  that 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  149 

comes  only  to  those  who  are  allowed  to  share  in  the  re- 
building of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  Here  in  Cuernavaca 
the  Methodists  have  built  a  "Rest  Home,"  so  that  we  are 
constantly  receiving  the  inspiration  from  these  warm- 
hearted friends  as  they  return  to  this  delightful  spot  to 
rest  from  their  toils. 

Iguala.  Pursuing  the  journey  toward  the  Pacific,  our 
attention  is  attracted  to  Iguala,  a  city  of  twenty  thousand 
people,  nestled  in  a  little  bowl-shaped  valley.  This  city 
is  noted  in  the  history  of  the  Independence  of  the  country 
as  the  place  where  the  Plan  of  Iguala,  (called  the  Three 
Guarantees)  was  drawn  up.  These  three  guarantees  were 
represented  in  the  National  colors,  green,  white  and  red, 
so  that  Iguala  is  the  birthplace  of  the  Mexican  Flag.  In 
this  city,  and  in  a  few  of  the  many  villages  and  towns 
surrounding  it,  are  found  Mexican  ministers  and  teachers 
who  are  holding  up  the  l)lood-stained  banner  of  the  Cross, 
a  better  emblem  than  even  that  of  freedom  from  an 
earthly  tyrant.  Out  in  that  great  section  we  are  again 
on  ground  made  sacred  by  the  blood  of  the  martyrs.  In 
1887,  in  Aguacatatlan,  Rev.  Abram  Gomez,  a  youthful 
Presbyterian  minister,  and  an  elder,  Don  Felipe  Zaragozo, 
making  an  evangelistic  tour  through  that  section,  were 
aroused  from  sleep  one  night  by  the  noise  of  a  tumult. 
It  was  a  mob  of  men  and  women,  who  were  instigated  by 
a  priest  who  had  boasted  that  he  would  exterminate  the 
Protestants.  The  mob  at  first  tried  to  break  through  the 
door,  and  failing  in  that,  tore  up  the  thatched  roof  and 
attacked  them  from  above.  The  young  minister  would 
not  allow  his  companion  to  use  his  gun,  saying,  "No,  it 
would  be  horrible  to  die  killing  another."  They  fell  on 
their  knees  before  the  bed,  and  in  this  posture,  were  killed. 
The  mob,  not  satisfied  with  this,  dragged  the  body  of  the 


150  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

young  minister  through  the  streets,  and  they  left  him  with 
his  blood-stained  Bible  placed  in  mockery  under  his  head. 

Chilpanzingg.  In  the  division  of  territory,  the  capi- 
tal cities,  Morelia,  Toluca,  Cuernavaca,  and  Chilpanzingo, 
every  one  of  them  a  place  of  importance,  fell  to  us.  Chil- 
panzingo, the  capital  of  the  state  of  Guerrero,  is  noted  in 
history  as  the  place  of  the  Assembly  of  the  first  Congress 
of  Mexico  on  September  13,  181 3,  three  years  after  the 
raising  of  the  standard  of  the  Republic  of  Hidalgo,  the 
Priest-patriot.  Chilpanzingo  is  the  center  of  a  vv^onder- 
fully  attractive  field.  The  people  in  Guerrero,  aWays  re- 
ceptive to  the  Gospel,  are  now  calling  for  schools,  church- 
es, teachers  and  ministers.  This  is  our  farthest-flung  bat- 
tle line.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williamson  asked  for  the  privilege 
of  going  there.  There  they  are  living  and  teaching  the 
Gospel.  Mrs.  Williamson  is  a  registered  nurse  and  ex- 
pects soon  to  open  up  a  clinic  and  to  visit  in  the  houses  of 
the  poor  in  the  ministry  of  healing  in  His  name. 

In  Chilpanzingo  we  came  into  a  rich  heritage.  Here,  as 
in  other  sections,  the  first  messenger  was  the  Bible  which 
fell  into  the  hands  of  a  young  Mexican  in  1875,  He  read 
it  and  began  speaking  of  it  to  his  friends,  and  soon  they 
met  for  study  and  worship.  This  continued  until  Mr. 
Hutcheson  of  the  Northern  Presbyterian  Mission  and 
Rev.  P.  C.  Diaz,  a  Mexican  minister,  visited  them  and 
regular  work  was  started. 

For  several  years  during  the  revolution,  no  missionary 
visited  this  state,  and  there  were  only  two  ordained  min- 
isters in  the  whole  state.  Yet  the  people  remained  faith- 
ful, Sr.  Rodolfo  Torres  who  graduated  from  the  Evan- 
gelical Seminary  in  November,  192 1,  is  at  Chilpanzingo 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  151 

now.     The  Protestants  are  being  gathered  into  churches, 
Sunday  Schools,  and  day  schools. 

The  finest  natural  harbor  in  Mexico  is  that  of  Acapulco 
in  the  state  of  Guerrero.  This  has  been  visited  only  once 
by  our  missionaries  and  work  has  not  yet  been  re-opened. 
Some  day,  however,  the  holy  influence,  shining  out  from 
Chilpanzingo  will  reach  this  place.  One  of  the  most 
noted  martyrdoms  in  Mexico  took  place  here.  Don  Pro- 
copia  Diaz,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  and  his  brother  built 
up  at  great  sacrifice  an  interesting  work  in  this  quiet  city 
by  the  sea.  But  the  fires  of  persecution  broke  out  against 
them,  and  one  night  there  took  place  what  is  known  in 
the  history  of  Protestantism  as  the  Massacre  of  Acapulco. 
A  fanatical  mob  attacked  the  Protestants  while  at  wor- 
ship, cruelly  maiming  the  leader,  killing  ten,  and  wound- 
ing many  others. 

In  this  section,  full  of  historic  interest,  with  surpass- 
ingly beautiful  scenery  and  rich  in  undeveloped  mineral 
resources,  the  multitudes  are  calling  to  us.  By  the  sacri- 
fice of  the  patriots  who  gave  their  lives  for  liberty  in  one 
of  the  leading  cities;  by  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  who 
died  preaching  the  truth  in  many  sections  of  our  field; 
by  the  work  of  sister  churches  and  the  Mexican  Protes- 
tants already  done;  by  the  belief  in  the  great  success  that 
awaits  our  efforts,  and  in  obedience  to  Christ's  command, 
we  are  making  our  plans  under  His  direction  to  estab- 
lish the  Kingdom  of  God  in  all  of  that  great  section. 


152  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

III. 

A  Soil  Suitable  for  the  Gospel  Seed 

Lovers  of  the  Beautiful.  Moving  from  one  part  of 
Mexico  to  another  has  broadened  our  knowledge  of  the 
people,  and  has  put  us  in  touch  -with  more  segments  of 
the  circle  which  makes  up  a  Mexican  world  "so  full  of 
such  a  number  of  things." 

One  of  these  segments  deserves  emphasis,  because  of 
its  direct  bearing  on  our  Evangelical  impact  on  the  life 
of  Mexico — the  Mexican's  innate  love  of  the  beautiful 
and  artistic.  We  have  been  told  that  if  a  man  loves  dogs, 
children,  flowers  and  music,  he  is  trust-worthy.  Mexicans 
love  all  of  these.  It  is  not  easy  to  imagine  one's  friends 
in  the  United  States  putting  on  their  best  clothes  to  stroll 
around  the  public  quare  for  two  or  three  hours  in  the  eve- 
nings in  the  week.  But  in  Mexico  that  is  just  what  hap- 
pens.   The  center  of  attraction  is  the  band  concert. 

An  American,  visiting  a  friend  in  Mexico,  was  invited 
to  go  with  him  to  the  Plaza  for  the  band  concert.  The 
American  visitor  expected  to  be  entertained  Ijy  the  most 
barbarous  rendering  of  still  more  barbarous  music.  It  was 
quite  otherwise.  Everybody  in  town  was  on  the  plaza, 
rich  and  poor,  educated  and  unlettered,  all  promenading 
together  with  a  simplicity  and  a  democracy  which  was  in 
itself  an  agreeable  surprise.  The  music  was  highly  classi- 
cal and  faultlessly  rendered  by  the  band.  The  most  sur- 
prising thing  of  all  was  the  very  evident  appreciation  of 
classical  music  by  high  and  low  alike.  The  American 
could  nut  understand  how  the  humblest  peon  could  enter 
mto  the  beauty  of  such  music.    But  this  was  typical.    The 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  153 

Mexicans  have  inherited  from  their  forefathers,  both  na- 
tive and  European,  the  love  of  the  artistic,  the  faciHty  for 
expression,  and  a  vivid  imagination. 

Poetry.  Altamirano,  one  of  Mexico's  greatest  poets, 
himself  a  full-blooded  Indian,  says :  "The  Mexicans  in 
the  sphere  of  Fine  Arts  have  cultivated  poetry  with  a 
decided  preference  and  w^itli  an  intensity  rarely  equalled, 
neglecting  to  a  marked  degree  biography,  history,  customs, 
the  novel,  and  other  literary  lines  no  less  interesting." 

That  the  aesthetic  sentiment  is  innate  vv^ith  the  Mexican 
is  seen  in  the  specimens  of  literature  w^hich  escaped  the 
hands  of  the  vandal  Spaniards,  vi^ho  in  their  ignorant  fa- 
naticism tried  to  destroy  everything  Mexican.  These 
specimens  that  escaped  make  us  w^ish  for  more.  Nearly 
all  of  the  writers  express  their  soul  sentiments  in  poetic 
form.  They  are,  for  the  most  part,  hymns  written  in 
honor  of  their  gods.  The  kings  and  princes  among  them 
were  patrons  of  the  art  of  poetry  and  themselves  were 
among  those  who  cultivated  it.  This  poetic  nature  was  a 
part  of  the  contribution  which  the  ancient  Mexicans  made 
to  their  descendants,  as  they  mixed  freely  with  the  Euro- 
peans. From  the  Spaniards  they  inherited  the  sonorous 
language  which  responds  to  all  that  thrills,  be  it  color, 
harmony,  or  mental  imagery.  They  inherited  the  varying 
moods  of  the  Spaniards,  and  these  have  been  preserved 
and  broadened  under  the  influence  of  their  majestic  moun- 
tains, primeval  forests,  ever-blooming  tropical  flowers,  and 
birds  of  sweetest  wild  song  and  gorgeous  plumage.  Un- 
der their  magnificent  skies  and  the  inspiration  from  other 
writers,  foreign  and  native,  their  poets  have  gone  through 
life  like  minstrels  of  old,  with  a  song  on  their  lips  and  un- 
satisfied yearning  in  their  hearts. 


154  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

Every  Century  has  had  its  Poets.     {Sec  Appendix). 

A  Distinguished  Literary  Woman.  We  of  the 
twentieth  century  are  especially  interested  in  knowing 
that  the  17th  century's  finest  representative  in  Mexican 
literary  works  was  the  beautiful  and  interesting  Juana 
Ines  de  la  Cruz,  At  the  age  of  three,  in  order  to  satisfy 
her  thirst  for  knowledge,  she  ran  away  from  home,  and 
went  to  school  with  her  brothers,  telling  the  teacher  that 
her  mother  had  sent  her.  Before  her  mother  knew  it, 
Juana  had  learned  to  read.  At  five,  hearing  of  the  Uni- 
versity in  Mexico  City,  she  begged  her  mother  to  dress 
her  as  a  boy  that  she  might  attend.  At  the  age  of  eight, 
she  wrote  a  brief  damatical  poem  which  showed  clearly 
her  poetical  genius. 

At  an  early  age,  she  became  Lady  of  Honor  in  the 
Palace  of  the  Viceroy  where  she  had  opportunity  to  sat- 
isfy her  thirst  for  knowledge,  and  where  her  personal 
charm  and  superior  intellectual  accomplishments  were  the 
wonder  of  the  court.  Many  were  disposed  to  attribute  her 
remarkable  attainments  to  supernatural  sources,  so  that 
the  Viceroy  invited  about  forty  of  the  most  learned  men 
of  the  day,  to  subject  this  intellectual  prodigy  to  a  rigid 
oral  examination.  Juan  extricated  herself  unembarrassed 
from  the  questions  which  the  university  professors,  the- 
ologicans,  philosophers,  and  mathematicians  each  in  his 
own  line  asked  her.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  she  was  so 
besought  by  suitors  that  it  became  necessary  for  her  to 
choose  between  matrimony  and  the  convent.  As  she  her- 
self says,  she  chose  what  seemed  to  her  the  lesser  of  the 
two  evils,  and  entered  the  convent  where  she  could  be 
free  to  continue  her  studies  uninterrupted.  To  her  heart's 
content  she  delved  into  every  form  of  human  knowledge. 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  155 

and  produced  an  abundant,  learned,  and  interesting  liter- 
ature, both  prose  and  poetry. 

She  broke  away  from  the  narrow  ecclesiasticism  of  her 
age.  On  one  occasion  she  pubHshed  an  article  sharply 
criticising  a  sermon  of  one  of  the  noted  priests.  A  mind 
so  liberal  was  dangerous  to  the  church,  so  the  bishop  be- 
gan bringing  to  bear  upon  her  every  possible  influence  to 
force  her  to  abandon  her  literary  pursuits  and  to  devote 
herself  exclusively  to  religious  matters.  At  first  she  re- 
sented the  suggestion,  but  being  a  good  Catholic,  she 
finally  sold  her  splendid  library  of  four  thousand  volumes, 
shut  herself  off  from  the  outside  world,  and  at  the  age  of 
forty-four  succumbeil  to  a  contagious  fever  contracted 
while  nursing  the  nuns  of  the  convent.  She  is  given  an 
eminent  place  in  Mexican  literature,  being  called  the 
"Tenth  Muse."  An  eminent  literary  critic  says :  "When 
a  Mexican  critic  impartial  and  scientific,  shall  make  a  col- 
lection of  the  best  works  of  the  Mexican  authors,  he  will 
make  haste,  I  doubt  not,  to  place  among  them  several  of 
the  productions  of  Juana  Ines  de  la  Cruz,  one  of  the 
brightest  lights  of  our  Parnasus." 

A  Great  Poet  of  Our  Own  Times.  Mrs.  H.  L.  Ross 
has  been  the  interpreter  for  us  of  one  of  Mexico's  most 
distinguished  poets.  She  says,  writing  February,  1920 : 
"Last  November  I  was  in  Mexico  City  when  the  body  of 
the  great  Mexican  poet,  Amada  Nervo  was  brought  from 
Uruguay  where  he  had  died  serving  his  country  as  am- 
massador.  The  procession  which  did  him  honor  was  the 
most  impressive  I  had  ever  seen,  composed,  it  was  said,  of 
over  two  hundred  thousand  people.  To  the  solemn  meas- 
ures of  the  funeral  march  they  passed  by,  all  the  Mexican 
dignitaries,  foreign  representatives  from  Latin  countries, 


156  Sunrise  in  Actcc  Land 

the  army,  the  marines,  the  military  students,  the  school 
children,  and,  last,  a  multitude  of  the  common  people,  all 
following  what  was  left  to  them  of  the  great  poet  who  had 
sung  to  them  and  whose  songs  thev  had  heeded  and 
loved." 

Student  Poets.  As  would  l)e  expected,  the  poetic 
muse  is  found  in  the  Mexican  educational  institutions. 
Given  a  poetic  nature  and  poetic  surroundings  and  youth, 
there  could  be  nothing  other  than  poetic  outflowings. 
There  are  two  sentiments  which  seem  especially  to  cause 
their  muses  to  become  actice.  Sorrow  and  Love. 

During  the  Spring  of  1922,  one  of  the  students  in  the 
Preparatory  School  of  Coyoacan  died.  It  was  the  occa- 
sion for  both  the  students  of  the  Girls'  School  and  the 
Boys'  School  to  pay  beautiful  tributes  to  his  memory. 
Besides  the  special  services  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
"EL  MUNDO  CRISTIANO".  the  Union  paper  of  the 
Protestants,  gave  them  more  than  two  pages  especially 
dedicated  to  him.  Four  of  the  tributes  were  in  verse  and 
the  others  equally  poetical  in  form  and  sentiment. 

Music.  There  is  music  in  every  land.  The  ancients 
sang  hymns  to  their  gods,  Imt  the  soul  of  music  was  not 
found  until  under  the  culture  of  God,  His  people  began 
singing  His  praises.  Through  the  immortal  Psalms  the 
ancient  Hebrews  voiced  their  j^raise.  Christ  closed  the 
Last  Supper  with  their  accustomed  Passover  Hymn.  Paul 
told  the  Christians  at  Colosse  to  teach  and  admonish  one 
another  in  "Psalms  and  hymns  and  spiritual  songs,  sing- 
ing with  grace  in  their  hearts  unto  the  Lord." 

It  is  interesting  to  us  in  a  Spanish  speaking  country 
to  note  that  the  anthem  of  the  angels,  "Gloria  in  Excel- 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Laud  157 

sis."  was  written  in  Latin  in  the  second  century.  Other 
Latin  Hymns  were  sung  during  the  middle  centuries. 
But  it  was  at  the  time  of  the  Reformation  that  Christian- 
ity broke  the  chains  which  had  bound  the  souls  and  so 
developed  the  personality  as  to  bring  out  the  hidden  sub- 
limities and  marvelous  possibilities  which  dwell  in  the 
realm  of  music.  Wherever  the  Protestant  Reformation 
went,  the  people  learned  a  new  song.  As  these  principles 
are  reaching  Mexico,  the  people  are  taking  their  poetical 
gifts  and  their  love  for  music  and  are  consecrating  them 
to  God. 

Most  of  the  first  hymns  were  translations  by  the  mis- 
sionaries and  the  first  hymnals  were  somewhat  crude.  But 
during  the  early  days  of  Protestant  missions,  God  gave 
to  Mexico  Westrup,  many  of  whose  hymns  are  still  sung, 
although  he  has  been  for  some  years  singing  the  songs  of 
the  redeemed  in  heaven.  Soon,  also,  the  Mexican  Chris- 
tians themselves,  as  they  learned  to  sing  the  songs,  began 
to  express  their  new  faith  in  hymns  of  their  own. 

For  some  time  Mrs.  H.  L.  Ross,  has  been  working  on  a 
Hymnal  for  children  and  young  people.  She  is  chairman 
of  a  music  committee  of  the  Committee  of  Co-operation  in 
Mexico.  All  of  the  material  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the 
publishers,  and  it  is  hoped  this  much  needed  hymnal  will 
soon  be  issued  from  the  United  Evangelical  Press  of 
Mexico. 

Evangelists  are  proving  that  they  have  the  great  gift 
of  singing  the  Gospel  into  the  hearts  of  the  people.  More 
and  more  use  is  made  of  the  solo  and  the  quartette. 
Trained  choirs  have  rendered  with  great  effectiveness  and 
power  some  of  the  great  oratorios  of  the  Church,  but  it 
is  in  the  Congregational  singing  that  their  hearts  are  lifted 


158  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

up  toward  God.  In  songs,  both  new  and  old,  the  people 
make  melody  in  their  hearts  and  with  their  voices  unto 
the  Lord. 

IV. 

Present  Day  Religious  Conditions 

Is  There  a  Present  Day  Need  for  the  Protestant 
Missionary?  Refined  and  educated  Catholics  from  for- 
eign countries  were  horrified  when  they  saw  the  condi- 
tions in  Mexico  after  centuries  of  absolute  control  by  their 
own  church,  and  they  declared  that  Mexico  was  not  Chris- 
tian but  pagan. 

Juarez,  the  great  leader  of  religious  liberty,  in  his 
amazement  at  the  power  and  wealth  of  the  church  and  at 
its  deathly  influence  on  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  his 
people  declared :  "Upon  the  development  of  Protestant- 
ism largely  depends  the  future  happiness  of  my  country." 

But  we  are  of  another  generation.  Has  not  the  Catho- 
lic Church  reformed?  Is  it  not  now  preaching  a  Gospel 
which  will  giyt  power  to  transform  man's  lives?  Has 
persecution  not  ceased  in  Mexico  ? 

An  Unpleasant  Task.  We  would  be  glad  if  we 
could  answer  all  of  those  questions  in  the  affirmative.  It 
is  not  a  pleasant  task  to  speak  of  the  failures  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church  in  Mexico,  and  we  do  not  point  out  these 
evils  because  we  find  any  joy  in  doing  so.  If  we  found 
these  same  evils  in  our  own  land  and  in  our  own  church 
we  would  denounce  them.  But  because  these  great  evils 
are  cloaked  by  religious  sanction,  it  becomes  us  to  speak 
of  them  with  more  condemnation.     Thev  are  imbedded  in 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  159 

the  forces  out  of  which  men's  whole  hope  of  hoHness  must 
flow.  We  would  be  glad  to  believe  that  God  was  finding 
the  hearts  of  His  sons  among  the  Mexicans,  and  that  the 
Mexicans  were  finding  the  heart  of  their  Father  in  the 
religion  which  predominates  in  Mexico.  But  what  we 
would  like  to  believe  must  not  blind  us  to  the  facts.  The 
facts  force  us  to  acknowledge  that  fifteen  millions  of  our 
near  neighbors  are  held  in  the  grip  of  spiritual  conditions 
which  are  in  no  way  meeting  their  needs. 

Some  Reforms  Noted.  We  are  pleased  to  note  any 
reform  which  may  have  been  established  by  the  Church. 
The  idolatry  is  perhaps  not  as  bold  as  when  the  Evangeli- 
cal missionaries  first  came  to  Mexico.  Mention  has  been 
made  of  the  Patron  Saint,  the  Virgin  of  Guadalupe,  and 
the  place  she  occupies  in  the  Religious  life  of  the  people. 
There  are  churches  and  chapels  erected  in  her  honor 
throughout  Mexico.  Next  to  the  cathedral  in  Mexico 
City,  the  one  in  Puebla  is  regarded  as  the  most  imposing. 
In  this  cathedral  there  is  a  chapel  of  the  Virgin  of  Guada- 
lupe. When  the  missionaries  first  came  to  Mexico  a  tablet 
hung  in  front  of  this  chapel  and  on  it  was  inscribed  the 
following  Prayer :  "Most  holy  Virgin  of  Guadalupe,  glori- 
ous daughter  of  God  the  Father,  mother  of  God  the  Son, 
and  wife  of  God  the  Holy  Spirit,  my  Lady  consecrated 
and  sanctified  before  thou  wast  created ;  I  pray  thee,  my 
patron  saint  and  Lady,  that  if  today,  if  this  moment,  if 
this  hour,  or  if  during  the  remainder  of  my  life,  or  in 
death,  any  sentence  should  be  passed  against  me  or  against 
anything  of  mine,  it  may  by  thy  intercession  be  revoked, 
and  by  the  hand  of  thy  Son  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be 
turned  aside.    Amen,  Jesus," 


160  Sioirisc  in  Aztec  Land 

The  heart  of  Christ  must  be  grieved  and  our  own  hearts 
are  shocked  as  we  read  this  paper.  It  may  1)6  that  the 
very  shame  of  it  and  its  blasphemy  forced  the  authorities 
to  remove  the  tablet.  It  is  not  found  there  now.  Some 
reforms  have  no  doubt  come  into  the  church  in  Mexico, 
Init  not  many. 

Superstition.  Reforms  may  have  come,  l)ut  the 
teaching  is  still  so  obscure,  confused  and  adulterated,  that 
only  an  occasional  soul  can  break  through  and  find  the 
Light  of  Life.  The  majority  have  confused  conceptions 
of  what  real  religion  is.  The  bull  fighter  has  his  patron 
saint  to  whose  care  he  commits  his  soul  before  going  into 
the  bull  ring,  a  near-by  priest  absolving  him  if  he  is  gored 
to  death.  Bands  of  rolil^ers  wear  images  of  the  Guadalupe 
on  their  hats  and  attribute  their  success  to  her  protection. 
One  whole  day  in  February,  1922,  the  streets  of  San 
Angel  and  Coyoacan  were  full  of  people  taking  their 
highly  decorated  burros,  horses,  cows,  sheep,  chickens  and 
turkeys  to  the  parish  church  where  the  priest  pronounced 
on  them  his  blessings  in  an  effort  to  make  them  more 
productive.  On  June  13,  there  takes  place  the  annual 
celebration  in  honor  of  San  Antonio.  The  celebration 
consists  in  fireworks  interspersed  with  the  mass,  and  a 
sermon  by  the  priest,  after  calling  on  the  Virgin  Mary  to 
give  them  grace  to  understand,  exalting  the  wisdom  of 
San  Antonio  who  is  able  to  protect  and  bless.  The  humble 
Indians  seem  to  get  as  much  enjoyment  out  of  the  fire- 
works as  they  do  from  the  sermon,  and  doubtless  they 
get  as  much  benefit.  San  Antonio  is  but  one  of  the 
multitude  of  saints  who  are  placed  between  the  people 
and  God. 


Sunrise  ill  Actcc  Land  161 

The  most  important  shrine  in  Mexico  is,  of  course,  the 
chapel  of  Guadalupe,  and  the  greatest  day  in  the  whole 
year  is  December  12,  the  anniversary  of  her  appearance  in 
1531.  On  that  day  the  devotees  come  from  all  parts  to 
witness  the  rites,  instituted  in  her  honor.  The  interior 
decorations  of  this  church  are  sumptuous  in  the  extreme. 
The  center  of  the  decorations  is  the  figure  of  the  Virgin 
painted  on  the  Indian's  blanket  framed  in  gold  and  cov- 
ered with  plate  glass.  The  surroundings  are  in  keeping 
with  the  weird  ceremonies  connected  with  the  celebration. 
Th  manifestations  of  folly  and  profanity  in  the  name  of 
religion  are  enough  to  grieve  the  heart  of  any  intelligent 
Catholic  who  visits  Mexico.  Just  such  a  person  visited 
Mexico  in  December,  1920.  Her  whole  refined  and  cul- 
tivated nature  revolted  at  the  scene.  The  babel  of  voices, 
the  songs  of  the  Indians,  the  fireworks  and  sky-rockets 
suggested  to  her,  instead  of  a  religious  congregation,  a 
demoniacal  pandemonium.  Gambling  was  in  full  force. 
The  air  was  filled  with  an  indiscriminate  jangle  of  un- 
earthly sounds  from  a  variety  of  instruments.  The  In- 
dians from  the  fastnesses  of  the  Sierras  danced  in  their 
peculiar  costumes.  They  formed  circles  one  within  the 
other,  the  finery  of  flaunting  ribbons  floating  around 
them.  The  harsh  voices  of  the  dancers  mingling  with  the 
wail  of  the  musician  who  played  as  if  in  a  frenzy,  were  in 
keeping  with  the  whole  scene.  It  was  the  wildest,  most 
mournful  dance  that  mortal  could  invent.  And  all  this 
was  done  in  the  name  of  religion ! 

The  Catholic  Church  in  Mexico.  The  Catholic 
Church  is  still  a  great  factor  in  the  social  life  in  Mexico. 
It  is  used  for  marriages,  for  baptisms,  for  the  burial  of 
their  dead.    But  as  a  living  factor,  the  church  has  lost  its 


162  Sioirisc  in  Aztec  Land 

hold.  The  faith  of  the  great  majority  of  the  men  in 
Mexico  is  in  peril.  In  some  classes  this  peril  is  far  ad- 
vanced and  in  some  cases  it  includes  whole  classes  of 
people.  Very  few  of  the  intellectuals  liave  any  vital  in- 
terest in  Christianity. 

Another  class  whose  period  of  doubt  and  whose  col- 
lapse of  faith  is  still  ahead  of  them  is  the  students  and 
here  lies  the  opportunity  of  the  Evangelical  Churches 
Surely  the  doubt  and  denial  of  all  faiths  spreading  un- 
checked among  fifteen  millions  of  nearest  neighbors  con- 
cerns us  most  vitally. 

As  a  political  and  social  factor  the  church  is  more  active 
and  influential  than  it  has  been  for  many  years.  It  is  not 
gaining  in  spiritual  and  moral  power,  but  seeing  its  loss 
of  influence  in  the  nation's  life  it  is  working  every  possible 
piece  of  machinery  to  strengthen  its  hold.  As  Protestant 
forces  are  redoubling  their  energies,  the  Catholic  Church 
is  trebling  hers.' 

The  Virgin  of  Guadalupe  was  crowned  the  Queen  of 
Heaven  in  1895.  The  twenty-fifth  anniversary  in  1920 
of  that  event  was  the  occasion  of  a  mighty  movement  all 
over  Mexico  looking  to  the  strengthening  of  the  hold  of 
the  Church  on  the  people.  The  preparations  for  the  cere- 
monies were  most  elaborate.  Prelates  and  dignitaries 
from  every  section  were  in  Mexico  City  and  for  days  the 
city,  especially  the  village  of  Guadalupe,  was  the  scene  of 
elaborate  festivities. 

In  the  winter  of  1920  the  City  of  Mexico  was  one  day 
thrown  into  religious  enthusiasm  on  account  of  the  ap- 
pearance in  one  of  the  most  fashionable  Catholic  Schools 
of  The  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus.  Later,  the  religious  sen- 
timents of  the  faithful  were  outraged  when  an  attempt 


SiDin'sr  ill  Azfcc  Land  163 

was  made  to  destroy  the  Virgin  of  Guadalupe  by  a  bomb 
at  the  very  time  that  a  feast  was  being  celebrated  in  her 
honor.  Prayers  and  masses  and  thanksgivings  were  said 
throughout  Mexico  under  the  direction  of  the  Church 
authorities,  and  there  was  renewed  zeal  on  the  part  of  the 
people  for  their  patron  saint.  But  the  Attorney  General 
for  Mexico  voiced  the  general  feeling  when  the  accused 
was  brought  to  trial  by  saying  that  the  bomb  was  thrown 
by  the  Church  authorities  themselves  in  order  to  revive 
the  waning  interest  in  the  Virgin.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
the  bomb  was  an  innocent  sort  of  thing,  and  a  group  of 
students  in  discussing  the  matter  said  that  the  Virgin 
would  not  escape  so  lightly  if  they  were  allowed  to  pre- 
pare a  bomb  for  her. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  conditions  of  unrest  which 
prevail  among  the  laboring  classes,  the  Church  has  been 
active  in  organizing  Catholic  Labor  Unions.  Confer- 
ences are  held  with  the  labor  leaders,  and  through  them 
the  masses  were  reached.  During  May,  1922,  there  was 
held  in  Guadalajara  a  great  Convention  of  these  Unions 
under  the  special  auspices  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

It  is  significant  that  there  has  broken  out  in  many 
sections  of  Mexico  bitter  persecutions  during  this  period 
of  renewed  activity  in  the  church.  During  the  Spring  of 
1922,  Mr.  Albino  Lopez  was  killed  in  the  State  of  Chia- 
pas. During  April,  1922,  Mr.  Rafael  Gonzales  was  killed 
in  Uruapan,  his  wife  barely  escaping  death.  His  crime 
was  being  a  Protestant.  During  the  same  period,  a  com- 
pany of  Protestants  were  making  an  Evangelistic  tour 
through  a  part  of  the  State  of  Durango.  They  reached 
Masquital,  a  small  town,  and  were  preparing  to  hold  their 
services  when  they  were  attacked  by  a   mob,  and  as  a 


164  SiDirise  in  Azfcc  Loud 

result  of  the  stoning  some  of  their  number  were  left  for 
dead.  Other  forms  of  persecution  have  been  revived  re- 
cently. The  Catholic  church  is  weak  as  a  moral  and 
spiritual  power,  but  it  was  never  more  active  than  now. 

Lack  of  Power  and  Progressiveness.  Again  we 
are  forced  to  say  unpleasant  things.  Roman  Catholicism 
in  Europe  and  the  United  States  has  something  in  com- 
mon with  Protestantism,  but  in  Mexico  they  are  opposites. 
Protestants  would  be  glad  to  co-operate  in  certain  forms 
of  social  and  national  welfare,  but,  until  the  present  time, 
this  has  been  impossible.  The  attitude  of  the  Catholic 
Church  toward  the  Sabbath  makes  it  a  day  for  business 
and  social  pleasure.  Intemperance  and  drunkeness  stalk 
the  land  as  a  mighty  giant  of  evil  unchallenged.  The 
churches  are  still  full  of  images  as  objects  of  worship, 
and  wide-spread  idolatry  prevails.  The  church  feasts  are 
often  characterized  by  gambling,  drinking,  and  vice,  and 
call  forth  from  Mexican  bystanders  the  remark  that  the 
reigning  deities  at  these  gatherings  are  Venus  and  Bac- 
chus. The  Indians  still  wear  their  native  costumes  and 
dance  their  ancient  dances  before  the  image  of  the  Virgin. 
Public  instruction  receives  only  lukewarm  support  from 
the  church.  She  still  denies  the  validity  of  civil  marriage 
and  places  upon  the  religious  ceremony  a  price  so  high 
that  it  is  prohibitive  to  the  poor.  As  a  result  of  this  and 
the  immorality  of  the  priesthood,  there  is  a  large  per- 
centage of  illegitimacy.  Catholicism  is  just  as  ready  now 
to  interfere  in  matters  of  state  as  she  has  always  been  and 
has  lost  nothing  of  her  claims  to  temporal  power.  She 
teaches  the  nature  of  sin,  but  takes  away  the  fear  of  it 
by  selling  indulgences ;  she  teaches  dogma  but  does  not 
insist  on  righteous  living ;  she  believes  in  immortality,  but 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  T.and  165 

has  added  to  the  future  life  a  purgatory  where  man  has 
another  chance. 

If  it  was  necessary  for  Christ,  nineteen  hundred  years 
ago,  to  denounce  Judaism  because  it  had  grown  formal 
and  was  not  meeting  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  world,  then 
it  is  necessary  for  the  pure  evangelical  faith  to  continue 
its  struggle  with  the  worn-out  formalism  and  supersti- 
tions of  the  Catholic  church  in  Mexico.  If  the  refor- 
mation of  the  sixteenth  century,  as  it  freed  the  human 
spirit  and  opened  afresh  the  living  streams  from  the  Word 
of  God,  was  necessary  as  an  essential  factor  in  the  mak- 
ing of  the  modern  world,  then  it  is  necessary  for  the 
Protestant  churches  to  continue  their  work  in  Mexico. 

Modern  Cults.  Many  of  the  unsatisfied  Mexicans 
have  turned  to  Spiritualism  and  its  allied  cults.  The 
mystic  nature  of  this  so-called  religion  appeals  to  the 
Oriental  cast  of  the  Mexican  mind.  For  many  years 
there  have  been  centers  of  spiritualism  in  many  parts  of 
the  country.  Many  prominent  men  have  been  and  are 
spiritualists.  The  governor  of  the  State  of  Taumalipas, 
was  at  one  time  a  Spiritualist.  President  Madero  was  a 
Spiritualist.  Just  now  in  the  City  of  Mexico  there  are 
said  to  be  ten  thousand  followers  of  this  cult.  In  the 
same  city  there  are  centers  of  Theosophy  largely  attended 
by  men.  Deep  inroads  have  been  made  in  our  work  in 
Zitacuaro  by  the  teachings  of  the  spiritualists.  The  faith 
of  many  has  been  wrecked. 

These  are  some  of  the  present  day  religious  conditions 
in  Mexico,  and  these,  together  with  the  many  vices  of  the 
people,  reveal  their  spiritual  poverty.  We  have  wonderful 
opportunities  to  enter  the  open  door  of  their  hearts  and 
give  them  the  truth  as  our  Bible  reveals  it. 


166  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

V. 
Favorable  Conditions 

The  Government  Favorable.  There  has  always  been 
a  group  of  liberal  leaders  who  have  favored  the  Protestant 
Movement.  The  revolution  has  put  in  power  an  entirely 
new  ruling  class,  and  this  class  is  favorable  to  the  Protes- 
tant faith.  Many  of  the  government  officials  are  Protes- 
tants. This  friendly  attitude  on  the  part  of  the  govern- 
ment took  very  definite  form  when  the  President  invited 
the  Protestants  to  take  part,  in  an  official  way,  in  the  cele- 
bration of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  consum- 
mation of  the  Independence  of  Mexico  from  Spain.  The 
government  provided  the  largest  theatre  in  Mexico  City 
for  the  purpose.    The  day  was  September  28,  1921. 

At  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  large  theatre,  seat- 
ing about  four  thousand  people,  was  entirely  filled  with 
an  intelligent  and  enthusiastic  audience.  Among  other 
numbers  in  the  program  there  was  singing  by  the  two 
hundred  students,  both  boys  and  girls,  of  the  Protestant 
schools  and  Sunday  Schools  in  and  near  Mexico  City. 
There  were  recitations  and  declamations  by  students  of 
these  colleges  and  three  well-prepared  addresses  by  lead- 
ing men  in  Protestant  circles.  The  closing  numbers 
brought  to  a  fitting  climax  the  exercises  of  the  day.  These 
consisted  in  the  singing  by  the  entire  assembly  of  a  hymn 
entitled  "Mi  Mexico,"  composed  recently  by  one  of  the 
young  ministers,  the  presentation  of  the  Mexican  flag  by 
one  of  the  veteran  ministers,  and  the  declaration  of  loyalty 
to  it  by  the  entire  company.  The  final  act  was  the  singing 
of  the  national  hymn.  The  Mexican  people  are  not  seen 
at  their  best  until  they  are  seen  in  a  religious  or  patriotic 


Sunrise  in  Astec  Land  167 

assemblage.  This  celebration  was  a  comlM"nation  of  pa- 
triotism and  religion,  and  no  one  could  look  on  that  scene 
without  the  assurance  that  there  are  now  in  Mexico  forces 
which,  under  the  direction  and  power  of  God,  are  going 
to  save  the  nation. 

The  Present  Social  Conditions.  Mighty  social  and 
political  changes  have  taken  place  during  the  past  ten 
years.  During  the  Diaz  regime,  many  indications  of  new 
life  were  seen.  Railroads  were  built,  mines  were  opened, 
telegraph  and  telephone  lines  were  constructed  throughout 
the  country.  Life  was  safe  and  the  old  isolation  of  Mexico 
was  broken  up.  These  changes,  however,  were  more  phy- 
sical than  intellectual  and  spiritual. 

But  during  the  past  ten  years  other  changes  have  come. 
We  are  now  dealing  with  a  hopeful  nation,  and  one  that 
is  now  standing  up  and  facing  the  future  with  eyes  toward 
the  dawn.  An  ancient  nation  is  becoming  a  new  nation. 
A  conservative  nation  is  now  l^eing  permeated  with  radi- 
cal ideas.  Restlessness  is  quickly  replacing  stagnation, 
Mexico  is  getting  in  line  with  the  march  of  events  of 
other  nations  and  is  in  the  swell  of  the  tide  of  progress. 
The  young  life  in  Mexico  is  full  of  hope  and  is  struggling 
upward.  President  Obregon  recently  stated  that  the  Mex- 
ican people  are  now  seeking  the  best  from  all  the  nations. 
Here  is  the  opportunity  for  Protestant  America. 

There  is  some  movement  towards  Protestantism,  espe- 
cially towards  the  Protestant  schools.  There  is  a  desire 
in  many  prominent  families  to  patronize  Protestant  insti- 
tutions. The  Secretary  of  State  has  his  daughter  in  a 
Protestant  school.  In  other  ways  men  in  public  life  are 
showing  an  interest  in  this  movement.    Sr.  De  La  Huerta, 


168  Suiirisc  hi  Aztec  Land 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  invited  Rev.  Vicente  Mendoza, 
editor  of  "The  Christian  World"  to  talk  with  him  ahout 
what  the  Protestants  could  do  to  help  Mexico.  During 
the  Centennial  Celebration  one  of  the  speakers,  in  telling 
words,  pointed  out  how  the  Catholic  Church  has  always 
opposed  liberal  and  progressive  governments  in  Mexico. 
The  speech  attracted  great  attention  and  a  group  of  prom- 
inent Catholics  called  on  Sr.  Osuna,  Manager  of  the 
Evangelical  Press  of  Mexico,  and  asked  him  to  meet  with 
them  at  regular  periods  to  make  with  them  a  comparative 
study  of  the  Catholic  and  Protestant  religions.  They  are 
wondering  how  they  can  answer  the  charges  brought 
against  their  church.  This  was  news  to  them  and  they 
felt  uneasy  and  uncomfortable. 

This  new  life  in  Mexico  has  its  perils.  The  great  masses 
of  the  people  have  begun  to  feel  their  strength.  They 
have  begun  to  realize  that  they  are  a  part  of  the  govern- 
ment and  that  they  have  some  rights  as  human  beings. 
An  industrial  revolution  now  exists,  and  unless  there  is 
some  steadying  influence,  it  is  likely  to  go  to  hurtful  ex- 
tremes. 

Recognition  should  be  made  of  the  steadying  influences 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  in  Mexico  for  centuries. 
Although  afterwards  excommunicated  and  degraded,  some 
of  her  priests,  as  Morelos  and  Hidalgo,  have  been  patriots 
and  martyrs.  Others  like  Las  Casas  have  been  protectors 
of  the  Indians.  She  has  always  insisted  on  the  super- 
natural, in  spite  of  the  tendency  to  confuse  it  with  the 
magical.  She  has  lent  cohesion  to  society.  Her  temples 
have  served  as  the  place  of  meeting  for  whole  country 
sides.  Her  firm  hand  has  often  repressed  dangerous  in- 
dividualism and  checked  the  demagog  before  he  applied 
the  torch. 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  169 

But  all  that  was  good  in  the  old  order  is  going  with 
all  that  is  worthless,  and  there  is  danger  that  the  nation 
will  plunge  into  unbridled  anarchy.  Here  is  the  peril. 
But  here  also  is  the  opportunity.  Protestantism  is  Mex- 
ico's hope.  In  it  they  will  find  a  steadying  influence  and 
an  intellectual  outlook  which  will  satisfy. 

Nationalism  in  the  Churches.  In  the  new  spirit 
winch  is  pervading  the  whole  life  of  Mexico  it  is  natural 
to  expect  a  new  spirit  in  the  churches.  We  are  now 
dealing  with  progressive  people  and  carrying  on  Mission 
work  among  a  people  who  have  great  national  ambitions. 
It  is  a  great  advantage  to  our  enterprise  to  feel  that  we 
are  in  an  atmosphere  of  boundless  hope  and  expectation. 
We  know  that  great  days  are  ahead  of  us,  and  while  this 
nationalistic  spirit  creates  its  difficulties,  we  must  accept 
it  as  one  of  our  most  valuable  resources. 

The  editor  of  El  Mundo  Cristiano  (The  Christian 
World),  the  organ  for  the  United  Protestant  forces  in 
Mexico,  in  its  issue  of  May  25,  1922,  writes  as  follows: 

"This  nationalism  is  manifesting  itself  in  a  larger  edu- 
cation of  our  people  in  the  character,  tendencies,  history 
and  doctrines  of  the  different  churches.  The  laymen  are 
waking  up,  and  this  sign  of  dawn  should  be  greeted  with 
rejoicing  for  the  day  our  laymen  wake  up  and  assume  their 
responsibilities,  the  Gospel  will  become  a  power  in  our 
lives. 

"These  thoughts  have  been  suggested  by  reading  the 
splendid  report  presented  by  the  National  Frontier  Pres- 
bytery, which  was  recently  held  in  Torreon.  No  one  is 
blind  to  the  tremendous  significance  of  the  work  done  by 
the  Presbyterian  Churches  belonging  to  this  presbytery. 


170  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

formed  by  all  the  Presbyterian  congregations  which  did 
not  accept  the  Plan  of  Cincinnati.  We  have  no  embarrass- 
ment in  manifesting  our  enthusiasm  for  everything  which 
leads  us  to  a  better  co-operation  among  the  churches,  and 
toward  the  realization  and  firm  conquest  of  a  legitimate 
nationalism.  Our  membership  is  in  the  Methodist 
Church ;  there  are  our  official  relations,  but  if  to-morrow 
there  comes  a  uniform  and  sincere  movement  for  the 
establishment  of  a  Mexican  National  Church,  based  on 
common  doctrinal  principles,  and  an  administration  which 
does  not  violate  reason  and  our  broad  judgment  in  church 
matters,  we  are  ready  to  join  hands  with  all  those  who 
have  similar  ideas,  and  we  will  sacrifice  our  Methodism  in 
order  to  create  a  new  representative  Mexican  Church 
which  perhaps  may  take  from  all  the  best  elements  for 
her  organization. 

"We  believe  that  the  churches  that  are  advancing  along 
all  lines  are  moving  firmly  in  the  direction  of  a  complete 
independence.  The  missions  do  not  look  with  disfavor 
on  this,  rather  praise  it,  and  stimulate  it.  Let  us  be  loyal 
to  our  consciences,  and  with  firmness  in  the  struggle,  edu- 
cate our  Christian  people  in  all  their  duties  and  one  day 
we  will  see  Mexico,  churches  strong,  active,  and  vigorous, 
sustaining  themself,  and  perhaps  reduced  in  number  as 
to  denominations,  conscious  of  a  national  life  expressed 
in  the  highest  type  of  enthusiasm,  strength,  education  and 
spirituality. 

"Let  there  come,  then,  a  nationalism,  pure  and  genuine, 
respectful  and  desirous  of  co-operation,  serene  and  noble, 
to  make  it  attractive  and  powerful,  and  with  it,  Christ 
will  be  glorified  and  His  name  exalted  among  the  people." 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  171 

The  Missions  are  taking  into  account  this  national  spirit 
into  account.  We  are  trying  to  remember  that  we  from 
another  land  are  to  meet  with  them  and  help  them  in  a 
task  which  is  fundamentally  theirs,  in  which  they  must 
more  and  more  be  leaders,  and  we  the  helpers.  We  ear- 
nestly pray  that  we  may  draw  near  in  sympathy  and  pur- 
pose to  the  great  churches  growing  up  in  Mexico  and  that 
in  the  adjustments  which  must  come  as  the  missions 
decrease  and  the  churches  on  the  field  increase  our  re- 
lations may  continue  to  be  happy  and  sympathetic. 

VII. 

Present  Day  Church  Activities 

Reconstruction.  Mexico  is  now  passing  through  her 
reconstruction  period.  The  Missions  are  finding  it  neces- 
sary to  "reconstruct"  many  of  their  buildings,  both  homes 
and  churches.  In  the  survey  of  almost  every  place  where 
we  are  now  working,  the  buildings  were  found  in  bad 
repair.  Mr.  Morrow,  who  was  the  first  to  visit  the  More- 
los  and  Guerrero  field,  wrote  concerning  Cuernavaca :  "We 
find  this  one-time  beautiful  city,  but  little  more  than 
ruins.  Only  bare  walls  attest  its  former  splendor.  All 
the  handsome  woodwork  of  its  houses  has  gone  into  cook- 
ing tortillas  and  the  elegant  canvas  ceilings  into  Zapa- 
tista uniforms.  Even  the  ancient  tapestry  of  the  wonder- 
ful old  palace  of  Cortez  suffered  the  same  fate.  I  find 
the  Methodist  Mission  house  uninhabitable.  The  doors 
and  windows  are  all  gone,  and  the  roof  and  ceiling  are 
falling  in.  With  the  exception  of  two  rooms,  the  entire 
floor  of  the  house  and  corridor  are  as  wet  as  the  street, 
and  it  rains  every  day.  The  only  two  dry  rooms  are 
occupied  by  a  poor  family  who  have  moved  in  and  planted 
corn  in  the  patio. 


172  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

"We  were  told  that  when  the  government  abandoned 
the  place,  the  people  left  their  homes  completely  fur- 
nished, pianos,  carpets,  tapestry,  every  thing  in  order. 
When  they  returned,  they  found  only  bare  walls.  At 
this  time,  little  attempt  has  been  made  towards  restoring 
the  houses.  The  people  who  have  returned  to  the  city  are 
camping  out,  as  it  were,  in  the  most  habitable  houses  they 
can  find,  sleeping  on  the  floor  and  using  boxes  as  chairs 
and  tables.  The  streets  are  overgrown  with  weeds  and 
full  of  filth.  Malaria  and  other  diseases,  hitherto  un- 
known in  this  famous  health  resort,  ravage  the  town.  The 
market  and  streets  are  filled  with  sickly  hungry  faces. 
About  four  thousand  have  returned.  Pulque  shops  and 
cantinas  (saloons)  are  open  on  every  corner.  Signs  of 
sufferings  and  vice  are  everywhere  in  evidence.  We  think 
the  time  is  ripe  to  open  our  work  here." 

While  Cuernavaca  suffered  more  than  any  other  city  in 
our  field,  this  picture  presented  by  Mr.  Morrow  in  Sep- 
tember, 1919,  shows  what  deep  furrows  the  war  had  made 
in  the  life  of  Mexico.  We  at  once  began  to  rebuild.  All 
of  the  Mission  property  has  been  repaired.  But  the  re- 
building of  the  churches  by  the  people  themselves  is  what 
has  caused  greatest  joy.  In  a  little  town  of  a  few  hun- 
dred people  high  up  in  the  mountains  of  Guerrero,  rav- 
aged repeatedly  during  the  Revolution  by  Zapatistas,  half 
the  houses  and  the  Protestant  chapel  were  burned.  The 
people  were  robbed  of  money  and  of  all  their  cattle,  many 
fleeing  to  the  mountains  for  refuge.  Did  the  little  con- 
gregation of  Protestants  suffer  an  "after-the-war"  depres- 
sion ?  Did  their  reconstruction  wait  on  outside  help  ?  With 
their  own  hands  they  have  hewn  stone  and  reared  the 
walls  of  the  new  church.  With  their  own  money  they 
have  paid  aJl  their  expenses.    The  roof  is  yet  to  be  added. 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  173 

Each  family  has  pledged  towards  its  cost  the  proceeds 
from  one  acre  of  corn,  a  gift  in  many  cases  more  than 
one-tenth  of  their  annual  income.  Another  village  in  the 
state  of  Guerrero  was  ready  to  receive  the  missionary,  on 
his  first  visit,  with  their  church  newly  covered  and  painted. 

In  La  Reforma,  the  missionaries  found,  on  their  first 
visit  after  the  revolution,  a  new  church  and  school  build- 
ing. The  same  was  found  at  Huerta  Vieja.  In  Santa 
Barbara,  in  the  same  state,  a  new  church  was  found. 
This  spirit  of  independence  and  initiative  reveals  what  the 
Gospel  does  in  building  character. 

Reaping  Over-Ripe  Harvests.  Mr.  Morrow,  during 
his  vacations  from  school  in  Coyoacan,  has  made  extended 
trips  into  our  new  territory.  He  has  been  the  explorer  of 
a  large  part  of  Guerrero.  While  on  one  of  these  trips,  he 
writes :  "For  one  time  I  was  sorry  that  I  am  not  an  or- 
dained man.  Such  a  bunch  of  babies  to  be  baptized  and 
parents  so  disappointed  that  I  could  not  perform  the  rite !" 
Since  then  ordained  men  have  gone,  and  wonderful  have 
been  the  harvests !  They  have  found  not  only  harvests  of 
babies  but  of  many  other  kinds.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  for  ten  years  no  missionary  had  visited  Guerrero.  In 
some  respects,  the  State  of  Guerrero  is  one  of  the  most 
backward  in  Mexico.  Its  inhabitants  are  not  living  up  to 
the  ideals  of  the  man  for  whom  their  state  is  named,  who 
with  his  associates  gave  them  national  independence  a  hun- 
dred years  ago.  They  have  fallen  behind  in  the  march. 
There  is  only  one  way  to  help  them  catch  up,  and  that  is 
to  give  them  the  true  gospel  and  Christian  education. 

In  another  section  Rev.  H.  L.  Ross,  accompanied  by  a 
ministerial  student,  was  welcomed  as  only  Mexicans  can 
welcome.  After  riding  seventy-five  miles  and  visiting  other 


174  Sunrise  in  Actcc  Land 

places,  the  two  men  came  up  to  a  village  just  at  sunset. 
Here  they  were  met  by  a  company  of  thirty  or  more  men, 
women  and  children  coming  down  the  trail.  After  the 
salutations,  the  march  was  taken  up,  when  suddenly  across 
a  little  ravine  five  young  women  appeared,  "daughters  of 
Jerusalem,"  coming  out  to  meet  them,  singing  hymns  of 
praise.  They  voiced  the  sentiments  of  the  whole  com- 
pany when  they  came  up,  knelt  down,  and  thanked  God 
that  their  "pastors"  for  whom  they  had  waited  so  long,  had 
come.  Then  turning  l^ack,  they  led  the  way  to  the  village 
singing  "Glory  to  God  in  the  Highest".  All  the  people 
followed  with  uncovered  heads.  Mr.  Ross  and  his  com- 
panion spent  several  days  in  that  part  of  our  field,  travel- 
ing on  foot,  on  burros,  or  on  horseback,  preaching,  talking 
to  enquirers,  holding  conferences  on  church  government 
and  discipline,  and  making  plans  for  the  opening  of 
schools.  Sixty-five  children  and  thirty  adults  were  bap- 
tized ;  forty-eight  persons  were  received  into  the  church ; 
seven  weddings  were  solemnized ;  one  chapel  which  had 
been  rebuilt,  was  dedicated,  and  plans  were  begun  for 
sending  three  young  men  to  the  seminary  to  take  the  short 
course  for  laymen. 

A  New  Presbytery,  Since  the  19th  of  April  1919, 
when  the  Presbytery  of  Taumalipas  voted  to  give  the 
members  of  the  Mission  their  letters  of  transfer  to  their 
home  presbyteries,  our  missionaries  had  no  ecclesiastical 
organization  in  Mexico.  They  felt  lonesome  and  wanted 
a  presbytery.  The  Mission  passed  a  resolution  at  the  an- 
nual meeting  in  January,  1921,  looking  to  the  organization 
of  a  new  presbytery  which  should  coincide  with  the  new 
field.  They  had  the  required  number  of  churches  and 
the  number  of  ordained  ministers  was  increasing.  At  the 
meeting  of  the  Synod  in  the  Spring  of  1921  a  Commis- 


Sunrise  III  Aztec  Land  175 

sion  was  appointed  to  organize  the  new  Presbytery.  The 
Commission  called  the  meeting  for  this  purpose  June  23, 
1921. 

They  did  their  work  well  and  then  left  the  new-born 
babe  to  begin  its  life  in  the  Synodical  family  of  Mexico. 
Some  things  happened  the  first  day  which  gave  promise  of 
great  things.  Six  ordained  Mexican  ministers  and  three 
elders  were  the  charter  members.  They  elected  officers 
and  appointed  committees  to  take  up  the  work  which  had 
fallen  to  them.  When  the  presbytery  was  hardly  more 
than  two  hours  old  there  marched  into  the  church  thirteen 
young  men  and  boys  from  the  Coyoacan  College  and  the 
Union  Theological  Seminary.  Presbytery  at  once  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  examine  them,  and  nine  of  them 
were  received  under  its  care  as  students  for  the  ministry. 
It  would  be  hard  to  match  that  scene.  Nine  students  re- 
ceived at  once  under  the  care  of  a  presbytery  hardly  more 
than  two  hours  old  !  Surely  the  work  was  begun  under 
the  blessings  of  the  Head  of  the  Church.  It  is  still  a  very 
young  liabe  but  the  year  which  closed  with  the  first  annual 
meeting  in  April,  1922,  indicated  that  it  is  living  up  to 
the  promise  of  the  first  meeting.  There  were  received 
during  the  first  year  three  hundred  and  sevnty-two  mem- 
bers. Two  hundred  and  seventy-nine  children  were  bap- 
tized, and  there  were  eight  hundred  and  twenty-two  mem- 
bers of  the  Sunday  Schools.  This  presbytery  is  also  tak- 
ing its  full  share  and  doing  its  full  part  of  the  work  in 
the  Synod's  Progressive  Program,  called  by  them  the 
"Plan  of  Advance".  The  name  given  to  this  new  presby- 
tery, was  the  Presbytery  del  Sur  (The  Presbytery  of  the 
South). 


176  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

Bible  and  Tract  Distribution.  Mention  has  been 
made  of  the  awakening  caused  by  the  revolution.  Prot- 
estant churches  are  better  attended  than  ever  before  and 
there  is  a  great  demand  for  instruction  both  secular  and 
religious.  Our  schools  are  full.  In  the  government  schools 
in  many  cities  there  is  a  good  sprinkling  of  Protestant 
teachers  and  they  are  making  their  influence  for  righteous- 
ness felt.  There  is  an  eagerness  everywhere  for  literature 
and  thousands  of  Bibles  and  tracts  have  been  distributed. 
Every  student  who  goes  off  on  vacation  work  is  supplied 
with  Bibles  and  tracts.  Mr.  Morrow  has  led  the  way  in 
this  form  of  Christian  endeavor.  During  1921  he  sold 
and  gave  away  over  one  thousand  Bibles,  testaments,  and 
portions  of  Scripture. 

One  day,  when  selling  Testaments  in  one  end  of  the  car, 
he  was  called  by  a  woman  in  the  other  end.  He  went  to 
her  and,  after  a  conversation,  arranged  to  go  to  her  home 
several  hours'  ride  off  the  railroad  to  see  her  daughter 
whom  she  wanted  to  put  in  school.  She  was  a  Catholic, 
and  Mr.  Morrow  made  it  very  plain  that  his  was  a  Prot- 
estant school.  But  that  made  no  difference,  and  plans 
were  made  to  send  the  daughter  to  the  school  in  San 
Angel. 

A  striking  illustration  of  the  influence  of  personal  work 
and  of  Bible  distribution  is  given  by  Mr.  Vanslike  of  the 
Northern  Presbyterian  Mission  in  Oaxaca.  One  of  the 
elders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Mexico  City  got  into 
conversation  about  religion  with  a  business  man  from 
Oaxaca,  as  they  traveled  several  hours  together  on  the 
train.  The  elder  sent  him  a  Bible  which  he  began  to  read. 
His  interest  rapidly  grew  and  he  read  it  aloud  at  home, 
and  argued  with  his  friends  and  relatives  about  the  new 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  177 

truths  he  had  discovered.  His  wife  objected  and  made  it 
very  unpleasant  for  him  at  home.  His  three  brothers  told 
him  that  he  would  injure  his  business  with  his  insane 
ideas.  He  received  the  Bible  in  1920  and  one  evening  a 
few  months  afterwards,  when  Mr.  Valslike  and  a  few 
others  were  present,  he  told  of  his  efforts  to  win  his  wife 
and  brothers.  The  little  company  made  special  prayer 
for  them. 

It  was  not  long  before  God  began  answering  their 
prayers. "  Soon  one  of  them  began  attending  Sunday 
School.  He  was  followed  by  another  brother  and  his 
wife,  and  these  three  were  converted  in  a  short  time. 
For  a  long  time,  his  third  brother  was  bitter  and  sarcastic, 
threatening  to  withdraw  from  the  business.  But  because 
of  very  active  Catholic  opposition  to  the  liberal  govern- 
ment of  Oaxaca  when  it  reached  such  a  point  that  an 
attempt  was  made  by  them  to  kill  the  governor,  he  began 
to  feel  that  the  Catholic  clergy  were  a  menace  to  the 
peace  of  the  republic  and  that  perhaps  his  brothers  were 
right.  Then  he,  too,  began  to  read  the  Bible  and  became 
a  regular  attendant  upon  the  services. 

The  oldest  brother  immediately  after  accepting  Christ, 
expressed  the  hope  that  his  son  might  be  converted  and 
study  for  the  ministry.  At  first  his  son  did  not  care  to 
attend  church,  going  only  because  his  father  wished  it. 
Three  months  later  he  became  deeply  interested,  taking 
part  in  the  Christian  Endeavor,  and  one  evening  while 
lading  the  meeting,  he  gave  a  spirited  talk  and  declared 
his  purpose  to  study  for  the  ministry.  One  of  the  four 
brothers  is  now  secretary  of  the  Sunday  School.  During 
these  months,  they  have  suffered  persecution  from  friends, 
their  business  has  been  boycotted,  but  they  have  gone 


178 


SiDirisc  in  Aztec  Land 


steadily  forward.  All  this  has  come  about  right  in  our 
own  times,  quietly,  and  with  no  excitement,  by  the  study 
of  God's  Word  and  persistent  prayer. 

Evangelistic  Campaigns.  As  has  been  mentioned, 
the  "Plan  of  Advance"  of  the  Synod  is  the  active  agency 
for  the  forward  movement  of  the  Church.  Special  em- 
phasis was  laid  on  Evangelism  during  the  first  three 
months  of  1922.  A  well  organized  campaign  was  made  in 
the  Toluca  Valley  during  January,  February  and  March. 
The  preaching  was  done  by  Rev.  Ezequel  Fernandez,  pas- 
tor of  the  church  in  Toluca  and  Rev.  Vicente  Mendoza, 
editor  of  the  "Mundo  Cristiano."  These  were  accom- 
panied by  a  team  of  from  two  to  four  in  each  place. 
Meetings  were  held  in  five  centers.  Two  services  were 
held  each  day  and  great  numbers  of  leaflets  were  dis- 
tributed.   The  claims  of  Christ  were  pressed  on  the  hearts 


Intermediate  C.  E.  Society  at  Toluca 


SiDirise  in  Aztec  Land  179 

of  the  people  by  personal  touch  and  by  public  proclama- 
tion. Emphasis  was  placed  on  the  acceptance  of  Christ 
as  the  personal  Saviour,  and  on  consecration  of  life  and 
substance  to  Him,  The  responses  were  beyond  expec- 
tations. Two  hundred  and  fifteen  persons  presented  them- 
selves asking  to  be  received  into  the  church.  Fifty-eight 
of  these  were  received;  the  others  are  waiting  until  they 
have  gained  a  further  knowledge  of  the  way  of  Life. 
Seventeen  children  were  baptized.  Every  day  the  work- 
ers went  out  into  all  of  the  surrounding  villages  distribut- 
ing leaflets  and  portions  of  the  Gospel,  explaining  the 
Gospel,  and  urging  its  acceptance.  Twenty-nine  such  vil- 
lages were  reached.  In  some  places  bitter  opposition  was 
aroused,  but  the  work  went  forward  and  God  gave  the 
increase. 

There  are  indications  that  we  are  on  the  eve  of  a  great 
religious  revival  in  all  of  Mexico.  Many  of  the  Chris- 
tians are  praying  for  such  a  revival  and  are  expecting  it. 
There  are  many  things  which  make  the  time  ripe,  among 
which  are  the  general  awakening  among  all  classes,  and  the 
searching  for  the  things  of  the  spirit. 

Bible  Institutes.  Along  with  tract  and  Bible  dis- 
tribution, personal  work,  and  evangelistic  campaigns,  the 
"Institutos,"  are  increasingly  popular.  These  are  held  for 
more  intensive  study  of  the  Bible  and  the  work  of  the 
church.  Pastors,  teachers,  leaders  in  Young  Peoples'  work 
and  Sunday  Schools,  and  ministerial  students,  are  the 
teachers  of  the  classes. 

Rev.  A.  H.  Mellon,  who  is  in  charge  of  the  American 
Bible  Society  Agency  in  Mexico,  gave  illustrated  lectures 
on  the  Bible  and  taught  classes  in  Bible  Story  Telling. 
There  were  classes  in  Personal  work,  in  the  Doctrines  of 


180  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  Young  People's  and  Sun- 
day-School work. 

It  seems  natural  to  Mexicans  to  leave  their  homes  for 
a  week  or  ten  days  to  attend  these  Institutes.  They  have 
for  centuries  been  making  reHgious  pilgrimages,  and  they 
find  these  gatherings  quite  in  keeping  with  their  ways. 
Even  in  ordinary  times  Protestants  make  "pilgrimages." 
A  group  of  Protestants  in  one  village  will  go  a  few  miles 
away  to  another  village  to  spend  the  day  in  worship  to- 
gether. Recently  the  whole  Protestant  congregation  in 
Xochimilco  went  eight  miles  up  the  mountain  side  to  at- 
tend the  Bible  Day  Celebration  at  San  Pedro,  spending 
the  day  and  returning  late  in  the  evening.  A  few  months 
ago  all  the  Protestants  in  Santa  Maria  went  one  Sunday 
morning  four  miles  to  San  Francisco  and  held  their  service 
with  them.  The  few  people  in  San  Francisco  had  not 
gotten  up  the  courage  since  the  Revolution  to  begin  their 
services,  so  their  friends  went  in  a  body  to  give  them  new 
faith,  hope  and  courage. 

The  Annual  National  Convention  of  Sunday 
Schools  and  Young  Peoples'  Societies.  There  are  no 
features  of  the  work  in  Mexico  which  receive  greater 
emphasis  than  our  Sunday  Schools  and  Young  Peoples' 
Societies.  For  some  years  before  the  Revolution,  Mexico 
had  a  General  Secretary  for  Sunday  Schools. 

Since  the  reorganization  of  the  work  after  the  revolu- 
tions, no  General  Secretary  has  been  appointed.  The 
Methodist  Church  has  its  own  secretary  for  Young  Peo- 
ples' Work  and  for  Sunday  Schools.  The  Young  Peoples' 
Work  in  the  churches,  other  than  that  of  the  Methodist 
and  Baptist,  is  united  in  the  Christian  Endeavor.  At  the 
Convention  in  Toluca  in  July,  1922,  Mr.  Joseph  H.  Wray, 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  181 

of  our  Mission,  was  made  General  Secretary  for  the 
United  Society  for  Mexico.  His  experience  as  Field  Sec- 
retary for  the  Southwest  (Oklahoma  and  Texas)  before 
he  came  to  Mexico,  gave  him  the  training  he  needed  for 
such  a  task. 

There  is  held  each  year  a  National  Convention  of  the 
Sunday  Schools  and  Young  Peoples'  work  of  all  the 
Evangelical  churches.  The  greater  part  of  the  Convention 
is  given  up  to  popular  meetings,  special  meetings  of  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  Work  and  Epworth  League  work  being 
held  separately. 

The  Christian  Endeavor  already  has  its  own  monthly 
periodical,  "The  Mexican  Endeavorer."  There  has  been 
talk  of  a  Union  paper  representing  all  of  the  Young  Peo- 
ples' Work  of  all  the  Churches.  This  will  undoubtedly 
be  one  of  the  next  advance  movements.  Another  advance 
movement  will,  no  doubt,  be  a  General  Secretary  for 
Sunday  Schools. 

The  Convention  for  1922  met  in  our  city  of  Toluca,  and 
was  one  of  the  best  ever  held.  There  were  400  delegates 
present. 

The  Conventions  gave  an  impressive  view  of  the 
strength  of  Protestantism  in  Mexico.  A  powerful  im- 
pression is  made  on  the  cities  where  the  meetings  are 
held.  Toluca  will  never  be  the  same  it  was  before  the 
Convention  of  1922.  The  large  number  of  delegates  going 
about  the  city  present  an  orderly,  clean  and  happy  appear- 
ance. The  climax  comes  in  the  public  popular  meetings 
with  their  enthusiastic  singing,  sermons  and  conferences. 
There  were  over  nine  hundred  present  at  some  of  the 
night  meetings  in  Toluca.    These  Annual  Conventions  are 


182 


Sioirisc  ill  Actcc  Laud 


the  trysting  places  where  lovers  of  men  and  of  God  in 
Mexico  meet,  work  and  plan  together. 

Some  of  the  finest  fruits  of  these  Conventions  are  the 
friendships  and  common  view  points,  resulting  from  the 
close  associations.  The  churches,  Sunday  Schools,  and 
Young  Peoples'  Societies  send  representatives ;  Mission- 
aries and  Mexican  pastors  mingle  in  pleasant  fellowship. 
There  is  nothing  exclusive  about  these  associations.  Min- 
isters and  laymen,  old  and  young,  Presbyterian  and  Meth- 
odist, Baptist  and  Sanctificationist  all  come  together  for 
the  common  good.  If  there  were  nothing  more  to  be 
gained  than  the  days  of  Christian  fellowship  these  annual 
gatherings  would  fully  justify  themselves. 


Drying  and  Sacking  Coffee  in  Mexico 


PART  TWO 

THE  DAWN 

(Continued) 
Chapter  VII. 


"Neither  pray  I  for  these  alone,  but  for  them  also  which 
shall  believe  on  me  through  their  word : 

That  they  all  may  be  one ;  as  thou,  Father  art  in  me,  and 
I  in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us :  That  the  world 
may  believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me." — John  17:  20-21. 


Chapter  Seven 


UNITING  THE  TORCHES 

Great  Latent  Resources.  There  are  great  latent  re- 
sources which  are  being  used  with  tremendous  power  in 
the  union  work  in  Mexico.  The  increase  of  efficiency 
through  co-operation  is  universally  recognized  in  the 
business  world.  The  churches  working  in  Mexico  recog- 
nize this  power,  and  after  careful  and  prayerful  study 
during  several  years,  they  have  worked  out  one  of  the 
most  comprehensive  co-operative  programs  that  has  ever 
been  attempted  for  a  whole  country  by  the  Christian 
Church. 

Racing  as  we  do  the  great  mass  of  superstition  and 
idolatry,  and  knowing  that  the  Gospel  is  the  only  hope 
for  Mexico,  the  co-operating  denominations  have  been 
attempting  to  hasten  the  work  of  making  the  Gospel  known 
to  all  the  people.  There  have  been  hours  of  prayer  to- 
gether and  days  of  fellowship  and  counsel.  There  is  no 
compromise  nor  sacrifice  of  conviction  or  denominational 
loyalty.  In  this  union  of  the  work  of  the  different  de- 
nominations there  is  absolute  harmony. 

Present  Day  Co-operative  Enterprises.  While  we 
are  just  in  the  beginning  and  are  still  in  the  experimental 
stage,  the  present  results  give  pit)mise  of  large  develop- 
ment in  the  near  future.  The  redistribution  of  territory 
was  a  wise  and  far  reaching  movement,  but  the  plan  also 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  185 

calls  for  co-ordinated  and  union  educational  and  medical 
work. 

Our  co-ordinated  work  is  with  the  Northern  Presby- 
terians in  the  Normal  School  for  Girls  in  San  Angel,  and 
the  High  School  for  Boys  in  Coyoacan. 

The  Union  tvork  already  established  is  the  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  Mexico  and  in  the  United  Publishing 
House.  The  plan  calls  for  other  Union  enterprises  which 
will,  we  hope,  be  established  as  time  advances.  All  of 
these  Union  enterprises  are  under  the  general  direction  of 
the  Committee  of  Co-opration  in  Latin  America  with 
headquarters  in  New  York  City.  This  committee  is  made 
up  of  Representatives  of  the  different  churches  working 
in  Latin  America,  while  the  Sub-Committee  on  Co-oper- 
ation in  Mexico  is  made  up  of  representatives,  both  Mexi- 
can and  American,  of  the  denominations  working  in  that 
country. 

Evangelical  Christianity  has  also  the  opportunity  of  set- 
ting the  pace  for  all  the  educational  enterprises  of  Mexico. 
We  have  a  system  of  education  which,  while  in  its  infancy, 
has  some  well  defined  lines.  The  system  begins  with  the 
day  schools.  Our  Mission  has  laid  special  emphasis  on 
this  department  of  the  work.  The  day  schools  gain  for 
us  an  entrance  into  many  Catholic  homes,  and  win  for  our 
work  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  the  community.  Re- 
sults have  been  well  worth  all  that  has  been  expended  on 
them.  One  can  never  forget  the  bright  sweet-faced  chil- 
dren in  these  schools.  On  examination  days  they  come 
with  their  clothes  neat  and  clean,  many  of  them  accom- 
panied by  their  parents  who  are  proud  of  the  progress 
made  by  their  children.  From  such  schools  come  some  of 
our  best  teachers  and  preachers. 


186 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 


The  next  schools  in  the  system  are  the  Secondary 
Schools.  The  one  at  Zitacuaro  will  serve  as  an  example. 
This  school  gathers  up  the  children  as  they  leave  the  day 
schools  and  carries  them  on  further  in  their  preparation. 
Miss  Beaty,  one  of  our  new  missionaries,  is  doing  her 
share  in  this  part  of  the  work.  As  she  and  her  associates 
are  teaching  the.  things  in  and  out  of  books,  we  can  rest 
assured  that  Mexico's  soul  is  being  discovered  and  that 
it  is  developing  in  the  process. 

We  have  plans  for  industrial  education.  The  Graybill 
Memorial  School  is  to  have  a  rebirth  in  our  new  field.  No 
better  section  of  Mexico  could  be  found  in  which  to  de- 
velop agricultural  missions.  With  the  agricultural  work 
there  will  also  be  established  the  mechanical  work.  Mex- 
ico's new  day  in  industries  will  more  and  more  call  for 
skilful  hands  and  brains.  Either  co-ordinated  with  these 
schools  or  separate  from  them  there  must  soon  be  in- 
dustrial schools  for  girls,  where  ideals  of  purity,  thrift, 


Graduating  Class  Girls'  Normal  School 
san  angel,  mexico 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Laud  187 

industry,  reverence,  and  submission  to  authority,  will  be 
taught  to  the  future  home-makers  of  Mexico. 

From  these  secondary  and  industrial  schools,  our  stu- 
dents pass  out  into  active  life  or  continue  their  studies 
in  the  Normal  and  preparatory  schools. 

San  Angel  Girls'  Normal  School.  In  the  pictur- 
esque and  ancient  tovi^n  of  San  Angel,  connected  by  inter- 
urban  cars  with  Mexico  City,  is  located  the  Presbyterian 
Normal  School.  The  grounds,  four  or  five  acres  in  extent, 
are  exceedingly  beautiful  with  their  stately  trees,  and  their 
flowers.  This  spot  might  be  called  "Queen's  Garden",  for 
here  the  girls  from  all  corners  of  the  republic,  some  or 
them  dark  corners,  are  taken  and  polished  as  if  for  the 
palace. 

The  school  established  in  Monterrey  by  the  Northern 
Presbyterians  in  1872  was  really  a  heritage  from  Miss 
Rankin.  Miss  Wheeler  moved  with  the  school  to  Saltillo 
where  she  remained  with  it  for  thirty  years,  moving  to 
San  Angel  in  1915.  Miss  McClelland  moved  from  Mata- 
moros  in  1916.  It  is  only  through  Miss  McClelland  that 
we  can  call  this  one  of  our  co-ordinated  schools,  because 
the  Northern  Presbyterians  have  furnished  all  of  the 
buildings  and  most  of  the  teaching  force. 

Need  of  Education  of  Women.  While  the  school  at 
San  Angel  is  a  normal  school  and  has  in  mind  especially 
the  training  of  teachers,  it  has  also  cultural  value  along 
all  lines  and  is  doing  its  part  toward  the  higher  education 
of  women.  It  is  time  now  to  lay  greater  emphasis  on  this 
important  work.  Sr.  Leandro  Garza  Leal,  in  presenting 
a  Christian  Message  to  the  Regional  Conference  in  Mexico 
City  in  1917,  said :  "In  presenting  this  message  we  note, 
in  the  first  place,  that  the  educated  class  in  Mexico  consists 


188  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

in  great  part  of  men.  The  opinion  among  the  great  ma- 
jority of  the  people  that  woman  is  incapable  of  gaining  a 
soHd  education  and  of  reaching  a  state  where  she  can  be 
the  competitor  of  man  in  all  branches  of  science  and  arts, 
is  so  deep  rooted,  that  in  many  communities  the  people 
prefer  even  that  their  primary  educators  be  men,  although 
by  her  very  nature  the  woman  is  better  adapted  to  this 
work.  Now  and  then  in  our  artistic,  literary  and  scientific 
societies  there  appears,  as  a  rare  exception,  the  name  of  a 
woman  educated  in  some  foreign  university,  or  one  who 
has  been  able  to  raise  herself  to  a  position  relatively  su- 
perior to  that  of  others,  by  dint  of  her  own  efforts  and 
without  the  co-operation  of  the  schools  of  the  country." 

The  times  demand  that  larger  attention  be  given  to  this 
exceedingly  important  work.  The  revolution  has  set  in 
motion  strange  new  forces  for  Mexican  women.  They 
are  breaking  away  from  the  pent-up  life  behind  window 
bars  and  are  coming  out  into  the  open.  They  are  talking 
now  of  their  federations  and  of  equal  suffrage.  In  the 
Congress  of  Women,  representing  all  the  American  Re- 
publics, held  in  Baltimore  in  the  Spring  of  1922,  Miss 
Elena  Torres,  the  representative  from  Mexico,  took  an  im- 
portant part.  Miss  Concha  Romero,  a  young  Mexican 
woman,  was  the  interpreter  for  the  Congress.  Miss  Ro- 
mero is  of  a  humble  family.  While  living  in  the  United 
States,  and  working  in  a  private  home,  she  took  her  pri- 
mary education.  She  then  went  to  Pomona  College  in 
California  from  which  institution  she  graduated  with 
honors.  From  there  she  went  to  Columbia  University. 
She  has  been  on  the  staff  of  the  "Independent"  and  has 
written  for  the  "Nueva  Democracia",  the  Spanish  paper 
published   by  the   Committee   of   Co-operation   in   Latin 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  189 

America.  Best  of  all.  Miss  Romero  is  a  Protestant. 
While  living  in  Chihuahua  under  the  influence  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  she  l^ecame  a  Christian.  Her  position 
as  interpreter  for  the  Congress  made  her  one  of  the  most 
prominent  persons  present. 

Christian  schools  have  helped  to  create  the  demand  for 
popular  education  among  women  in  Mexico  and  the  Chris- 
tian School  is  also  the  key  to  the  situation  in  supplying 
this  demand. 

Selfishness  and  indifference  to  the  needs  of  the  great 
masses  of  the  people  of  Mexico  still  prevails.  The  wife  of 
a  prominent  army  officer,  talking  about  the  ideals  and  lives 
of  the  Mexican  women,  said  that  in  all  her  circle,  which 
includes  practically  all  of  the  official  class  in  Mexico  City, 
she  knows  only  one  woman  who  has  the  least  interest  in 
the  lower  classes  and  who  is  making  the  least  efiFort  to 
lift  them  up. 

The  importance  of  Christian  education  for  women  is 
seen  also  in  the  influence  which  woman  still  holds  in  Mex- 
ico. This  same  woman  of  whom  we  have  spoken  bears 
testimony  to  the  influence  which  the  present  day  Mexican 
woman  wields  in  the  aff^airs  of  Church  and  State.  The 
men  would  go  much  farther  than  they  do  in  favoring 
Iii)eral  ideas,  were  it  not  for  the  influence  of  their  wives. 
The  great  masses  of  the  women  are  still  loyal  to  the 
church.  Their  spiritual  advisors  still  make  use  of  them  in 
holding  their  husbands  and  brothers  to  conservative  ideals. 
Through  the  women  at  the  confessional,  the  priest  wields 
a  power  felt  even  in  congress  and  up  to  the  chair  of  the 
presidency.  When  the  women  are  reached  the  most  in- 
fluential portion  of  society  in  Mexico  will  have  been 
reached. 


IQO  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

Womanhood  reaches  its  fruition  in  the  home  and  is 
crowned  in  motherhood.  Christian  education  must  step  in 
and  train  these  future  home  makers  and  mothers. 
"Mother"  is  a  charmed  word  throughout  Mexico  and  it 
appeals  to  the  highest  and  nohlest  in  men.  Nothing  that 
has  come  to  Mexico  in  recent  years  has  struck  a  more  re- 
sponsive chord  than  has  the  celebration  of  "Mothers' 
Day."  Although  a  new  day  has  brought  new  conditions  in 
the  middle  and  upper  classes  the  girl  is  still  in  the  hands  of 
her  mother  until  she  enters  into  young  womanhood.  The 
mother  controls  her  education,  her  religious  and  social 
life,  and,  in  many  cases  arranges,  her  marriage. 

The  home  in  every  land  is  the  center  of  society.  The 
discipline  of  the  home  is  more  important  than  good  gov- 
ernment, for  the  discipline  of  the  home  is  essential  to 
good  government.  All  will  agree  that  Mexico  is  in  need 
of  some  power  producing  discipline.  The  sanctity  of  the 
home  is  more  important  than  the  sanctity  of  patriotism. 
The  overwhelming  number  of  unmarried  mothers  all  over 
Mexico  is  a  stern  indictment  against  the  social  standards 
which  prevail.  Here  is  an  opportunity  for  the  Protestant 
churches  to  raise  the  ideals  through  the  education  of 
woman.  A  revival  in  the  home  is  more  important  than  a 
revival  in  the  church.  Religious  instruction  in  the  home 
is  more  important  than  religious  instruction  in  the  school. 
The  Christian  training  of  the  women  in  the  schools  pre- 
pares for  the  Christian  training  in  the  home,  and  the 
Protestant  forces  need  the  Christian  home  for  the  sake 
of  the  church. 

The  Christian  education  of  woman  is  important  on 
account  of  her  place  in  education.  In  Mexico  the  teach- 
ing profession  was  the  first  profession  open  to  women 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  191 

and  multitudes  took  advantage  of  it.  A  great  many  of 
the  teachers  in  the  government  schools  have  been  edu- 
cated in  Protestant  schools.  The  graduates  of  these  schools 
are  sought  by  the  government.  For  many  years  the  state 
authorities  in  Coahuila  have  officially  recognized  the  diplo- 
mas from  the  Protestant  Normal  schools.  In  192 1  the 
minister  of  education  of  the  state  of  Michoacan  said  he 
would  take  every  graduate  from  the  Normal  school  in 
San  Angel  for  his  schools  in  that  state.  The  superinten- 
dent of  education  of  the  Zitacuaro  district  said  that  he 
wanted  to  fill  every  place  in  his  schools  with  Protestant 
teachers.  Here  the  Protestant  churches  have  a  wonderful 
opportunity  to  serve  Mexico. 

The  Golden  Key.  In  the  school  at  San  Angel  about 
one  hundred  girls  are  being  given  vocational  training. 
Years  ago  all  of  the  expenses  of  the  students  were  paid  in 
order  to  induce  them  to  come ;  now  they  are  anxious  to 
come  and  parents  are  anxious  to  send  them  to  the  school. 
At  first  the  student  body  was  made  up  entirely  of  the 
poorer  classes,  but  now  the  girls  from  the  middle  classes 
form  the  majority,  with  an  increasing  number  each  year 
of  the  higher  classes.  A  religious  atmosphere  pervades 
the  school.  Seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  students  are 
members  of  the  church.  Some  of  these  are  from  Catholic 
families,  pupils  who  joined  the  church  during  their  stay 
in  San  Angel.  Last  year  seventeen  joined  the  church. 
It  is  very  rare  for  a  girl  to  stay  through  the  whole  course 
and  not  publicly  confess  her  faith  in  the  Saviour.  Christ 
has  a  special  message  for  these  women  of  Mexico. 

The  Mexican  System  of  Education.  The  educa- 
tional system  of  Mexico  is  like  the  French  system.  In 
general   terms   the   difiference   between   the    Mexican   and 


192  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

American  system  is  that  in  Mexico  six  years  are  given  to 
primary  education,  which  includes  the  elemental  and  gram- 
mar grades,  five  years  to  preparatory  education,  and  seven 
years  to  professional  training. 

The  term  "college"  is  applied  to  almost  any  kind  of  an 
institution,  but  there  is  no  college,  as  we  understand  the 
term,  in  the  educational  system  of  Mexico.  With  the 
extra  years  in  the  professional  schools,  the  time  required 
to  complete  a  professional  course  from  the  beginning  in 
the  primary  grades  to  the  end,  is  practically  the  same  as  in 
the  United  States.  The  school  at  Coyoacan  is  a  "Pre- 
paratory" school  from  the  Mexican  view  point,  but  not 
from  the  American  view  point.  The  students  pass  di- 
rectly from  this  school  to  the  professional  schools. 

One  Among  Many.  There  are  a  number  of  Protes- 
tant schools  and  "Colleges"  in  Mexico  which  are  having 
an  influence  out  of  all  proportion  to  their  number.  The 
story  of  such  colleges  as  Harvard,  William  and  Mary, 
Princeton,  Hampden-Sidney,  Yale,  and  what  they  did  in 
the  development  of  America  is  being  retold  by  Mexican 
Protestant  Institutions.  Laurens  Institute  in  Monterrey 
and  Palmore  College  in  Chihuahua,  where  such  effective 
evangelistic  work  is  being  done  by  the  students,  belong  to 
the  Southern  Methodists.  The  Collegio  International  in 
Guadalajara  is  under  the  direction  of  the  Congregational- 
ists.  One  Presbyterian  school  for  girls  is  in  Merida  and 
another  is  in  Vera  Cruz.  In  the  beautiful  city  of  Puebla 
with  eighty  thousand  people,  the  Methodists  have  their 
largest  educational  center  where  are  over  one  thousand 
students  of  both  sexes.  In  Tacuba,  just  outside  of  Mex- 
ico City,  the  Episcopal  school  for  girls  is  doing  an  un- 
usually fine  piece  of  work.    The  Sara  L.  Keen,  in  the  heart 


Sunrise  in  Aatec  Loud 


193 


of  Mexico  City,  carried  on  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  North,  is  one  of  the  best  known  schools  in  the 
city.  These  are  some  of  the  Protestant  schools  for  higher 
education.  The  greatest  need  in  the  Protestant  church  in 
Mexico  to-day  is  leadership,  and  it  is  within  the  power  of 
these  Christian  schools  under  the  blessing  of  God  to  fur- 
nish this  leadership. 

A  Splendid  Record.  Coyoacan  appears  in  the  early 
annals  of  Mexico.  The  present  municipal  building  was 
built  by  Cortez.  It  was  here  he  courted,  won,  and  after- 
wards killed  his  beautiful  Aztec  princess.  What  is  said  to 
be  the  oldest  Catholic  church  in  Mexico  stands  on  the 
plaza  in  Coyoacan.  In  this  historic  place  the  Presbyterian 
Preparatory  School  is  located.  It  is  the  capstone  of  Pre- 
professional  Presbyterian  Education  in  Mexico. 

The  Coyoacan  school  began  in  Mexico  City  in  1873  and 
after  being  moved  to  several  places,  it  was  located  in  Coyo- 
acan in  1897.  There  was  a  theological  department  in  the 
school  until  19 17,  which  was  given  up  in  order  to  help 
in  the  formation  of  the  EvangeHcal  Seminary  of  Mexico. 


Ministerial  Students  at  Coyoacan 


194  Sunrise  in  Astec  Land 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  number  of  graduates  of 
these  schools  who  occupy  positions  of  trust  in  Church  and 
State  in  Mexico.  Most  of  the  ordained  Presbyterian  min- 
isters in  Mexico  were  educated  in  Coyoacan  College.  One 
graduate  is  now  minister  of  education  in  the  state  of  Tau- 
mahpas ;  another  is  vmder  secretary  of  state ;  another, 
after  being  head  of  the  largest  preparatory  school  in  Mex- 
ico, is  now  spending  two  years  in  the  United  States  and 
France  doing  special  study  at  the  expense  of  the  gov- 
ernment. Other  Protestant  schools  have  made  similar 
records. 

Coyoacan  Preparatory  School  has  always  stood  for 
thorough  work.  The  record  of  the  students  reveal  their 
splendid  literary  training.  The  students  have  organized 
themselves  into  two  literary  societies  and  with  great  en- 
thusiasm have  entered  into  their  work.  Visitors  to  the 
school  are  shown  a  cabinet  full  of  trophies  won  by  the 
students  of  Coyoacan  for  successful  competition  in  ath- 
letics. 

The  Church  and  Its  Pastor.  The  center  of  Chris- 
tian activities  in  both  the  Coyoacan  Preparatory  School 
and  the  San  Angel  Normal  School  is  in  the  Church  in 
Coyoacan,  The  Normal  School  is  only  one  mile  away  and 
the  Church  in  Coyoacan  is  the  Church  home  for  both  in- 
stitutions. The  building  is  one  of  the  most  attractive 
Protestant  churches  in  Mexico,  This,  with  the  class 
rooms  of  the  Coyoacan  school,  furnishes  a  splendid  plant 
for  work  and  worship.  The  pastor  of  the  church  is  one 
of  the  leading  younger  ministers  in  the  Evangelical 
Church,  He  is  of  Mexican  stock,  was  trained  in  the  Coyo- 
acan Preparatory  School  and  Seminary,  spent  two  years 
in  Austin  College,  Texas,  and  since  his  return  to  Mexico 


Sunrise  in  A::: fee  Land  195 

has  been  growing  in  strength  and  usefulness.  He  is  secre- 
tary of  the  "Plan  of  Advance"  of  the  Synod  of  Mexico. 
He  is  president  of  the  National  Convention  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Forces  in  Mexico,  perhaps  the  highest  honor  that 
comes  to  an  Evangelical  leader.  He  also  teaches  Bible  in 
the  school  in  Coyoacan. 

There  is  a  Sunday  school  in  this  church  with  a  mem- 
bership of  over  two  hundred  having  organized  classes, 
two  Christian  Endeavor  Societies,  and  a  women's  so- 
ciety, all  are  doing  excellent  work.  The  emphasis,  how- 
ever, is  placed  on  the  work  with  the  students  of  the  two 
institutions.  During  the  closing  days  of  192 1,  at  a  mid- 
week service  specially  arranged  by  the  pastor  to  press 
upon  the  hearts  of  the  students  of  both  schools  the  call  to 
definite  Christian  work,  two  of  the  students  for  the  min- 
istry spoke  to  their  fellow  students  laying  before  them 
the  claims  of  Christ  on  their  lives  and  making  appeals  for 
dedication  to  His  service.  Each  year  special  evangelistic 
services  are  held  in  the  schools  and  in  the  church,  with 
rich  returns. 

Conditions  are  changing  in  Mexico  and  the  Evangelical 
Schools  are  having  a  central  place  in  bringing  about  these 
changes.  They  have  been  sending  out  a  constant  stream 
of  young  men  and  young  women  who  are  now  becoming 
the  leaders  in  the  Evangelical  churches.  Other  young  men 
and  young  women,  while  not  directly  engaged  in  Christian 
work,  are  occupying  places  of  prominence  and  are  helping 
to  break  down  the  contemptuous  attitude  of  the  people  of 
a  generation  ago  to  everything  Protestant.  The  regular 
and  required  Bible  study  in  these  schools  has  introduced 
new  and  wholly  different  ideas  about  God  and  His  Word 
into  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  people. 


196  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

The  Union  Theological  Seminary  of  Mexico.  In 
the  final  analysis  the  people  of  Mexico  are  not  to  be  evan- 
gelized through  the  agency  of  the  foreign  missionary,  but 
through  the  agency  of  Mexicans  themselves.  Leaders  must 
be  found  among  them  who  will  commend  their  new  found 
faith  to  them  in  a  way  which  they  can  understand  and 
appreciate.  To  find  and  train  these  leaders  is  a  funda- 
mental task  of  the  Foreign  Mission  enterprise.  This  min- 
istry should  be  well  trained  physically,  mentally,  morally 
and  spiritually.  Such  a  training  is  needed  to  present  to 
the  people  of  Mexico  both  Protestant  and  non-Protestant, 
the  highest  type  of  Christian  life  which  is  characteristic 
of  our  faith. 

The  First  Schools  of  the  Prophets.  Mr.  Graybill, 
understanding  the  fundamental  task  of  the  foreign  mis- 
sionary, organized  classes  in  Theology  a  few  months  after 
he  began  his  work.  For  nearly  a  generation  he  continued 
this  work,  and  men  now  prominent  in  the  ministry  in 
Mexico  were  trained  by  him.  The  other  Missions  did  a 
similar  work,  most  of  them  establishing  theological  de- 
partments in  connection  with  the  preparatory  schools. 

Schools  Unite  Into  One.  The  plans  adopted  at  the 
Conference  in  Cincinnati  July,  1914,  involved  the  union 
of  the  several  Theological  schools  into  one.  The  name 
adopted  for  the  united  school  is  the  Union  Theological 
Seminary  of  Mexico.  The  Rev.  John  Rowland,  D.  D.,  of 
the  Congregational  Church,  was  elected  President  of  the 
Seminary.  This  was  most  fitting  since  Dr.  Rowland  has 
the  distinction  of  being  the  missionary  of  longest  service  in 
Mexico.  He  and  Mrs.  Rowland  are  just  now  rounding 
out  their  fortieth  year  in  Mexico.  Ris  rich  experience 
as  a  teacher  and  as  an  administrator  qualify  him  for  the 


Sunrise  in  Asfec  Land  197 

task.  Dr.  William  Wallace  and  the  Rev,  O.  W,  E,  Cook 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  were  elected  profes- 
sors, and  later  the  Rev,  W,  A,  Ross  of  our  own  mission 
was  elected  to  professorship. 

Management  of  the  Seminary.  The  management 
of  the  institution  is  vested  in  the  faculty  under  the  direc- 
tion and  with  the  endorsement  of  a  Council  of  Adminis- 
tration, made  up  of  representatives  of  the  co-operating 
churches,  one  representative  being  allowed  for  each  thou- 
sand dollars  contributed.  This  Administrative  Council  is 
made  up  of  Americans  and  Mexicans  in  about  equal  pro- 
portion. The  council  holds  monthly  meetings  and  exer- 
cises a  close  watch  over  the  course  in  the  seminary.  In 
connection  with  the  Committee  of  Co-operation  in  Latin 
America,  with  headquarters  in  New  York,  there  is  a  spe- 
cial committee  of  the  Evangelical  Seminary  of  which  Dr. 
S.  H,  Chester  is  a  member.  All  action  of  the  Council  in 
Mexico  is  subject  to  revision  by  this  Committee  in  New 
York,  which  represents  more  directly  the  home  churches. 

The  Seminary  has  no  endowment,  so  that  it  is  supported 
solely  by  the  annual  appropriations  of  the  home  churches, 
made  on  a  percentage  basis.  Those  churches  which  have 
professors  assigned  to  the  Seminary,  furnish  them  with  no 
extra  cost  to  the  Seminary,  The  students  look  to  the 
Missions  for  their  support.  Besides  the  three  professors 
who  are  giving  full  time,  a  group  of  able  and  well  trained 
ministers,  most  of  them  Mexican,  assist  in  teaching  in  the 
Seminary. 

Purpose  and  Courses,  The  purpose  of  the  Seminary 
is  the  training  of  Evangelical  workers  and  especially  of 
ministers  for  Mexico.  There  is  no  department  of  Mis- 
sion work  in  Mexico  which  is  in  more  urgent  need  of 


198  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

being  emphasized  and   strengthened  at  the  present  time 
for  the  highest  good  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ. 

The  courses  offered  have  a  decided  cultural  value.  This 
is  worthy  of  emphasis  for  at  least  tvi^o  reasons.  The  times 
are  demanding,  more  and  more  in  Mexico,  ministers  who 
can  present  Protestantism  to  the  cultured  classes.  While 
these  classes  are  not  turning  in  great  numbers  to  Protes- 
tantism, there  are  found  among  them  those  whose  hearts 
yearn  for  a  more  spiritual  faith,  and  ministers  should  be 
trained  to  meet  them  on  their  own  ground.  Then,  too,  it 
has  been  noted  that  the  Pre-professional  schools  go  very 
little  farther  than  our  High  Schools  in  the  United  States. 
The  training  received  in  them  should  be  supplemental. 
Besides  following  generally  the  theological  curricula  of 
the  seminaries  in  the  United  States,  there  is  some  attempt 
made  to  supply  what  is  lacking  in  the  training  up  to  the 
time  the  students  enter  the  seminary. 

The  courses  are  thoroughly  practical.  This  is  shown 
in  several  ways.  In  view  of  the  meager  number  of  can- 
didates for  the  ministry  in  1920,  the  Administrative  Coun- 
cil approved  the  plan  of  a  short  course  of  a  few  months 
during  the  year  for  intensive  study  and  training  for  lay- 
men. For  two  years  this  course  has  been  offered  and  has 
proved  entirely  satisfactory  and  has  become  a  regular  fea- 
ture of  the  seminary.  Some  of  those  who  came  for  the 
short  course  were  almost  completely  lacking  in  educa- 
tional preparation,  but  their  work  in  the  Seminary  served 
to  awaken  their  interest,  give  them  a  start,  and  indicated 
lines  of  further  study.  Some  of  those  who  came  for  this 
course  later  entered  the  Seminary  for  a  longer  period  of 
study. 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  199 

Another  practical  feature  of  the  Seminary  curriculum 
is  the  course  in  Religious  education  given  in  the  class 
room.  In  the  Seminary  there  is  a  model  Bihle  school 
which  meets  one  afternoon  each  week.  Mrs.  Barher,  the 
daughter  of  the  President  of  the  Seminary,  has  had  spe- 
cial training  in  this  work  and  has  been  the  technical 
director.  This  school  is  made  up  of  the  students  of  the 
Seminary  these  constituting  the  teaching  and  official  force, 
but  all  the  people  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Seminary 
who  are  interested  may  attend.  The  enrollment  usually 
runs  about  seventy.  Most  of  these  students  in  their  work 
make  use  of  the  principles  learned  in  the  Model  Bible 
School. 

Special  instruction  is  also  given  to  those  interested  in 
the  work  among  young  people.  Another  course  covers 
church  finance  and  organization.  The  course  given  on  the 
Catholic  Church  takes  a  very  practical  turn,  in  that  it  is 
based  on  a  comparison  between  the  Protestant  and  the 
Catholic  beliefs.  The  common  ground  between  the  two  is 
established  and  the  Christian  minister,  appreciating  the 
merits  of  the  Catholic  faith,  more  readily  gains  the  ear  of 
its  adherents.  Courses  are  also  given  in  sermon  construc- 
tion, preparation  and  delivery,  the  conduct  of  public  wor- 
ship, voice  production  and  culture,  vocal  and  instrumen- 
tal music  and  each  student  has  definite  church  work  in  and 
out  of  Mexico  City.  This  Christian  work  is  carried  on 
under  the  supervision  of  the  pastors  and  members  of  the 
faculty  and  is  of  great  practical  value. 

The  Seminary  in  its  general  teaching  is  not  sectarian. 
The  common  heritage  of  truth  in  Christ  is  emphasized 
and  a  common  worship  and  Christian  service  are  exalted 
as   supreme.     Provision,   however,   is   made    for   special 


200  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

courses  in  the  tenets  of  each  church.  Presbyterian  stu- 
dents are  given  instructions  in  the  government,  polity, 
discipline  and  doctrines  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  w^hile 
other  churches  make  the  same  provision  for  their  stu- 
dents. 

A  Younger  Sister.  There  has  been  established  during 
the  past  three  years  a  school  which  is  doing  for  the  young 
women  what  the  Seminary  is  doing  for  the  young  men. 
There  is  an  ever  growing  field  for  trained  women  to  di- 
rect the  activities  of  the  children,  young  people,  and 
women  in  the  churches.  It  is  well  understood  that  the 
condition  of  woman  must  be  changed  if  the  national  as- 
pirations of  Mexico  are  ever  to  be  realized.  The  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  has  established  in  the  heart  of 
Mexico  City  a  school  for  this  purpose.  The  popular  term 
now  used  in  the  United  States  has  been  transferred  to  it, 
and  it  is  called  a  Deaconesses'  School.  During  its  first 
two  years  it  was  operated  in  connection  with  the  Seminary, 
the  girls  taking  the  work  along  with  the  students  for  the 
ministry.  While  the  Methodists  have  up  till  now  borne 
all  the  financial  burden  of  the  school  it  is  hoped  some 
day  that  it  may  grow  into  a  union  institution.  Places  are 
offered  to  students  of  other  churches  and  our  Mission  is 
taking  advantage  of  this  opportunity  granted  to  them. 

The  United  Evangelical  Press.  Mention  has  been 
made  of  the  awakening  in  Mexico.  This  is  shown  in  no 
more  powerful  way  than  in  the  demand  for  literature. 
Protestantism,  with  its  stimulus  to  popular  education,  has 
had  its  share  in  creating  this  demand  for  reading  matter. 
It  is  giving  a  new  impulse  to  popular  education,  and  while 
putting  into  the  hands  of  the  people  the  tool  of  literature 
it  is  turning  out  year  by  year  multitudes  of  potential 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  201 

readers.  This  has  created  one  of  the  missionary's  widest 
fields  of  opportunity.  Having  had  a  share  in  creating 
this  demand,  Protestantism  is  obhged  to  supply  it  with 
Christian  literature.  Tons  of  atheistic,  agnostic  and  other 
pernicious  literature  are  issued  annually  in  Mexico.  There 
is  scarcely  anything  which  fills  the  place  occupied  by  chil- 
dren's literature  in  the  United  States.  There  is  little  that 
attracts  young  people  to  the  pursuit  of  high  ideals.  There 
is  scarcely  anything  which  teaches  that  purity,  honesty, 
self-restraint,  and  sympathy  for  the  rights  and  needs  of 
others  are  anything  more  than  Utopian  dreams.  There 
is  a  desire  to  read  and  we  must  produce  a  literature  that 
will  reflect  Christian  ideals. 

The  power  of  the  printed  page  as  an  evangelizing  agency 
has  not  been  fully  realized.  It  is  not  a  substitute  for  the 
missionary.  The  power  of  personal  contact  can  never  be 
replaced.  But  the  printed  page  has  some  advantages;  it 
can  be  read  and  re-read.  It  can  travel  forth  as  a  pioneer 
where  the  climate  is  deadly,  the  population  sparse  and 
where  conditions  are  adverse  dull  minds  may  be  little  im- 
pressed by  the  preacher's  words,  but  may  be  deeply  im- 
pressed by  something  read.  Numbers  of  persons,  after 
reading  a  tract,  become  interested  and  begin  reading  the 
Bible.  A  thousand  questions  may  be  suggested.  The 
missionary  alone  would  be  unable  to  attend  to  any  new 
cases  because  of  the  multitude  of  these  questions.  With 
books  designed  to  answer  such  questions,  he  is  himself 
multiplied.  Tracts  and  books  multiply  the  means  of  ex- 
pressing to  those  who  visit  the  dispensaries  or  lie  in  the 
hospitals,  the  reason  the  doctors  and  nurses  minister  to 
them  so  tenderly  and  so  freely.  A  woman  may  visit  peo- 
ple in  their  homes  and  leave  a  book  here  or  a  tract  there. 


202  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

or  a  church  paper  in  another  home.  Those  who  receive 
these  printed  messages  often  have  their  curiosity  aroused 
and  sometimes  unwittingly  become  missionaries  by  show- 
ing this  hterature  to  their  friends.  A  child  in  the  street 
or  in  Sunday  School  may  receive  a  leaflet  or  illustrated  pa- 
per which  invariably  finds  its  way  into  some  home  bring- 
ing with  it  is  Christian  message  of  cheer. 

Union  of  Evangelical  Presses.  There  were  among 
the  evangelical  churches  in  Mexico  some  half  dozen  or 
more  printing  presses.  It  was  agreed  at  a  Conference  in 
Mexico  City  in  February,  1919,  that  the  Northern  and 
Southern  Methodists,  the  Friends,  the  Congregationalists, 
and  the  Disciples  should  merge  all  their  printing  establish- 
ments into  the  United  Publishing  House  of  Mexico.  Our 
own  church  also  entered  into  the  plan.  Steps  were  at 
once  taken  to  carry  out  the  union.  The  first  important 
move  was  the  uniting  of  the  different  weekly  and  semi- 
weekly  periodicals.  It  thus  came  about  that  the  El  Faro 
(the  Lighthouse)  of  the  Northern  Presbyterians,  the 
Abogado  Cristiano  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
North,  the  Evangelista  of  the  Southern  Methodists,  the 
Testigo  of  the  Congregationalists,  and  the  Ramo  de  Olivo 
(Olive  Branch)  of  the  Friends  were  in  July,  1919,  merged 
into  EL  MUNDO  CRISTIANO.  This  united  paper  is 
now  the  official  organ  for  all  of  these  churches  and  repre- 
sents, as  nothing  else  does  in  Mexico,  a  united  Protestant- 
ism. The  editor  of  this  paper  is  Rev.  Vicente  Mendoza 
who,  after  many  years  of  experience  as  a  pastor  and  later 
as  an  editor,  spent  some  years  in  California  engaged  in 
Christian  work  and  study.  He  returned  in  192 1  to  Mexico 
to  take  up  his  present  work.     His  is  one  of  the  most 


Sunrise  in  Astec  Land  203 

important  posts  among  Protestants  in  Mexico  and  he  is 
doing  his  work  wonderfully  well. 

The  Manager  of  the  Press,  Mr.  Osuna,  is  also  well 
equipped  for  his  task.  His  life  story  deserves  more  than 
a  passing  notice.  He  became  a  Protestant  when  a  young 
man  and  united  with  the  Southern  Methodist  Church. 
Because  of  his  great  promise,  the  governor  of  the  State  of 
Coahuila  sent  him  along  with  several  companions  to  the 
United  States  for  special  normal  training.  Upon  his  re- 
turn Mr.  Osuna  was  made  head  minister  of  education  of 
his  state.  During  his  term  of  service  there,  he  built  up  the 
best  system  of  public  education  in  all  Mexico.  During  the 
revolution  he  spent  a  part  of  his  time  in  Vanderbilt  Uni- 
versity doing  special  study.  He  later  returned  to  Mexico 
and  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  educational  department 
in  the  Federal  District,  and  still  later  became  governor  of 
his  own  native  State  of  Taumalipas.  He  has  always  been 
a  true  and  zealous  Christian.  He  brings  to  his  work,  as 
manager  of  the  United  Publishing  House,  a  mind  and 
heart  well  trained  for  an  unusual  service. 

Besides  the  tracts  and  leaflets,  books,  Sunday  School 
literature,  and  other  smaller  bulletins,  most  of  them  pub- 
lished monthly  representing  the  work  of  the  different  de- 
nominations, there  is  published  in  New  York  City  by  the 
Committee  of  Co-operation  in  Latin  America  a  monthly 
magazine  in  Spanish  called,  "La  Niieva  Democracia."  Dr. 
Juan  Orts  Gonzales,  whose  remarkable  spiritual  history 
is  well  known,  and  who  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  United  States,  is  the  editor,  and  Dr.  S.  G.  Inman, 
Executive  Secretary  of  our  Committee  on  Co-operation,  is 
business  manager.     This  paper  is  gaining  in  popularity 


204  Sunrise  in  Azicc  Land 

year  by  year  and  is  making  its  way  especially  among  the 
educated  and  ruling  classes  in  all  Latin  American  coun- 
tries. It  is  breaking  down  opposition  to  the  Evangelical 
Church  in  all  of  those  circles  and  is  proving  an  entering 
wedge  for  the  Gospel.  Six  presidents  of  Latin  American 
countries  are  regular  readers  of  the  "New  Democracy", 
among  whom  is  found  President  Obregon  of  Mexico. 


Abram  Gomez 
a  presbyterian   martyr 


PART  TWO 

THE  DAWN 

(Continued) 
Chapter  VIII. 


"That  Book  is  not  the  book  of  a  nation,  but  the  Book 
of  all  nations,  because  it  places  before  us  the  fortunes  of 
one  nation  as  a  symbol  unto  all  the  rest,  because  it  con- 
nects the  history  of  this  one  people  with  the  origin  of  the 
world,  and  by  a  series  of  earthly  and  spiritual  develop- 
ments, of  facts  necessary  and  accidental  continues  it  unto 
the  remotest  regions  of  the  farthest  eternities." 


Chapter  Eight 


OTHER  AGENCIES 
I. 

Besides  these  Union  enterprises  described  in  the  last 
chapter  there  are  other  agencies  co-operating  in  this  great 
enterprise.  One  of  the  most  important  of  these  is  that 
of  Bible  translation  and  distribution. 

The  early  work  of  the  Christian  Church  was  largely  a 
work  of  Bible  translation.  The  Protestant  Reformation 
of  the  Sixteenth  Century  brought  about  a  renewed  interest 
in  the  Scriptures  and  a  revival  of  the  translation  of  the 
Bible  into  the  Vernacular.  It  is  significant  that  the  inven- 
tion of  the  printing  press,  the  revival  of  Bible  translation, 
and  the  discovery  of  Mexico  all  belong  to  the  same  period 
of  history.  Unfortunately,  the  groups  of  persons  who 
were  translating  and  giving  the  Bible  to  the  people  were 
not  those  who  discovered  and  conquered  Mexico. 

Bible  Translations.  It  is  important  in  our  study  of 
Mexico  to  note  that  the  Vulgate,  a  Latin  Bible,  has  been 
the  authorized  Bible  of  the  Catholic  Church  for  Centuries. 
The  first  book  ever  printed  was  the  Latin  Bible,  and  the 
first  translation  of  the  Bible  into  a  modern  language  was 
the  translation  into  Spanish  in  1280.  Most  of  the  other 
translations  into  modern  languages  were  made  after  the 
Reformation. 

Since  this  version  in  1^80  many  other  Spanish  versions 
have  been  made.     The  one  most  commonly  used  by  the 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  207 

Protestants  is  that  of  Cipriano  de  Valera.  It  would  be 
more  correct  to  call  this  version  that  of  Casiodoro  de  Reina, 
as  Valera  himself  admitted  that  he  made  only  a  "few  and 
simple  alterations."  Casiodoro  de  Reina  studied  for  the 
priesthood  but  soon  joined  the  reform  movement  and 
became  a  minister.  He  was  forced  to  leave  Spain  and 
went  first  to  Switzerland  and  later  to  Germany.  Not  for- 
getting, in  his  exile,  his  desire  to  give  to  his  fellow- 
countrymen  the  Gospel,  he  spent  twelve  years  in  translat- 
ing the  Bible  into  Spanish.  The  translation  was 
completed  in  Frankfort  in  1567,  and  printed  in  1569. 
Later,  Cipriano  de  Valera,  a  converted  Catholic  monk  who 
had  escaped  to  England  where  he  married  an  English  lady, 
gained  his  degree  at  Cambridge,  and  revised  this  version 
of  Reina.  It  is  because  of  this  revision  that  the  version 
is  called  by  his  name.  He  worked  on  this  over  a  period 
of  twenty  years  comparing  carefully  the  original  texts. 
His  work  was  done  and  the  version  printed  in  1602,  nine 
years  before  the  appearance  of  the  King  James  Version. 
This  has  been  in  Spanish  what  the  Authorized  Version 
is  in  English.  Many  Spanish  Scholars  regard  it  as  one 
of  the  purest  and  best  productions  of  Spanish  literature. 
This,  with  a  few  modifications,  is  the  version  that  is 
generally  used  throughout  Mexico  and  all  Spanish  Amer- 
ica. 

Dr.  H.  B.  Pratt,  connected  for  a  short  time  with  our 
Mission,  carried  through  almost  alone  a  translation  of 
the  Bible  during  the  closing  years  of  the  last  century. 
Just  as  there  was  felt  the  need  in  English  of  a  revision 
of  the  Authorized  Version,  the  same  need  was  felt  in 
Spanish-speaking  countries.  The  plan  to  organize  a  Com- 
mittee to  do  this  was  never  carried  out  so  that  Dr.  Pratt 


208  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

did  the  work  practically  alone.  Some  regard  this  transla- 
tion as  being  more  faithful  than  any  other  to  the  original 
languages,  and  it  is  indeed  a  noble  piece  of  work. 

Still  later,  with  the  same  desire  to  get  a  translation 
which  would  meet  the  demands  of  the  times,  a  company 
of  English,  Spanish,  and  Mexican  scholars  in  Madrid 
worked  on  a  new  translation  of  the  Bible  into  Spanish. 
The  New  Testament  was  completed  in  1916.  Work  on  the 
Old  Testament  has  not  yet  begun. 

Mexico  is  more  than  half  oriental,  so  that  the  Bible, 
and  especially  the  Old  Testament  with  its  oriental  atmos- 
phere, is  especially  adapted  to  the  Mexicans.  The  men 
and  the  women  of  the  Bible  are  contemporaries,  in  a 
peculiar  sense  of  the  Mexicans.  The  imagery  of  the 
prophets  is  met  by  that  of  the  Mexican,  because  of  the 
similarity  of  the  occupations  and  customs  between  Pales- 
tine and  Mexico.  The  stories  of  Ruth,  of  Esther,  and  of 
Mary  find  a  quick  response  in  the  heart  of  the  naturally 
religious  Mexican  women. 

Our  Best  Allies.  It  is  hard  to  see  how  the  Mission 
work  could  be  carried  on  without  the  aid  of  the  Bible 
Societies,  as  they  translate  and  send  the  Book  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth.  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was 
the  first  in  the  field  but  at  the  present  time  is  not  at  work 
in  Mexico.  The  Bible  House  of  Los  Angeles,  California, 
has  also  been  a  faithful  hand-maiden  of  the  Missions,  but 
the  principal  work  of  Bible  distribution  in  Mexico  has 
been  done  by  the  American  Bible  Society.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  an  agent  of  the  Society  accompanied  the 
American  army  in  its  invasion  of  Mexico  in  1847  and  it 
was  from  a  Bible  given  by  members  of  the  army  that 
the  mother  of  Leandro  Garza  Mora  learned  the  Way  of 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  209 

Life.  In  1860  the  Society  opened  an  agency  in  Monterrey, 
and  in  1870  moved  to  Mexico  City,  where  it  still  has 
headquarters.  Rev.  H.  P.  Hamilton  was  the  agent  for 
many  years,  and  at  his  death  in  1905  Mrs.  Hamilton  was 
appointed  as  his  successor.  She  belongs  to  that  elect 
company  of  missionary  pioneers  among  whom  is  Melinda 
Rankin.  She  had  the  unique  distinction  of  being  the  only 
woman  entrusted  with  the  full  care  and  responsiblity  of 
a  Bible  Society  agency.  Her  ten  years'  administration  of 
the  duties  of  the  office  fully  justified  the  confidence  reposed 
in  her.  The  duties  required  great  wisdom,  business  judg- 
ment, sympathy  and  love.  Her  colporteurs  she  knew  by 
name  and  daily  she  remembered  these  workers  in  prayer. 
In  the  storm  and  stress  which  came  to  Mexico,  the  Board 
advised  her  to  return  to  the  United  States,  but  only  at 
the  command  of  the  Board  did  she  leave  at  last  in  May 
1914.    She  died  while  at  home  in  June  5,  1915. 

The  Present  Agent.  It  would  be  hard  to  find  a 
person  connected  with  the  Protestant  work  in  Mexico 
who  is  better  equipped  for  his  task  than  is  Rev.  A.  H. 
Mellen,  the  present  Agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society 
in  Mexico.  Besides  his  business  ability,  Mr.  Mellen  has 
cultivated  the  gift  of  story  telling.  This  has  proved  one 
of  the  most  effective  means  not  only  of  promoting  the 
sale  of  the  Bible  but  also  of  increasing  interest  in  its 
study.  He  is  popular  at  conferences  because  of  his  stories, 
and  he  willingly  contributes  his  services  to  our  schools 
and  institutes  as  a  teacher  of  the  art. 

Colporteurs.  No  chapter  in  the  history  of  missions 
in  Mexico  is  fuller  of  splendid  heroism  than  that  which 
recounts  the  story  of  the  Colporteurs.  It  is  a  chapter  full 
of   the  courage  and   faith  of   these  pioneer  evangelists, 


210  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

going  out  as  scouts  of  the  great  militant  church  of  Jesus 
Christ.  It  is  a  chapter  full  of  persecutions  and  of  martyr- 
dom. 

While  Mr.  Juan  Granades,  the  first  colporteur  employed 
by  the  Mexico  City  Agency,  was  in  Guerrero  circulating 
the  Bible  and  explaining  it  to  the  people,  thirty  or  forty 
men  armed  with  knives  and  pistols,  surrounded  his  house 
one  night  crying,  "Death  to  the  Protestants."  During  the 
fight,  his  brother,  Jose,  was  cut  to  pieces.  There  have  been 
over  eighty  Christians  murdered  in  Mexico,  most  of  whom 
have  been  colporteurs.  These  humble  men,  like  their 
Master,  go  about  doing  good.  During  the  years  that  the 
missionaries  were  unable  to  visit  the  State  of  Guerrero,  the 
colporteurs  were  busy  sowing  the  seed.  They  visited  the 
homes  of  the  people,  explained  the  Word  of  God  to  the 
inquiring,  defended  it  against  the  ridicule  of  the  enemy, 
and  argued  with  the  priest  for  its  free  circulation.  We  are 
now  reaping  the  benefits  of  the  work  of  those  colporteurs. 
Even  now  they  travel  the  dusty  roads  in  the  broiling  sun 
of  Taumalipas,  and  climb  the  mountains  of  Guerrero  and 
Oaxaca.  They  bear  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day  for 
those  who  came  after.  They  are  the  John  the  Baptists 
who  prepare  the  way  in  the  desert  for  the  minister  and 
the  missionary.  It  was  one  of  these,  Sr.  Luis  Rodriguez 
who,  just  at  the  close  of  the  revolutions,  carried  through 
a  campaign  which  placed  thousands  of  Bibles  and  Testa- 
ments in  the  hands  and  homes  of  the  people  throughout 
Mexico. 

Bible  Days  in  the  Churches  and  Sunday  School. 
Mr.  Mellen  and  his  first  assistant,  Mr.  Marroquin,  have 
aroused  great  interest  in  the  Bible  and  its  place  in  Mexico's 
life  by  having  Bible  Day  celebrated  in  the  Churches  and 
Sunday  Schools.    An  attractive  program  is  gotten  out  by 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  211 

the  Agency  in  Mexico  City  and  furnished  to  all  the 
churches.  A  spirit  of  patriotism  has  also  entered  into  the 
celebration  of  the  day  and  has  given  it  an  added  popularity. 
The  church  in  Chilpancingo  which  has  been  without  a 
pastor  for  several  years,  wrote  for  the  programs  and  sent 
to  the  Society  their  offerings  made  on  that  day.  Up  in  the 
mountains,  eight  miles  from  the  car  line,  at  a  village  named 
San  Pablo  the  people  had  a  three-hour  celebration. 
Friends  from  Xochimilco  eight  miles  away  went  to  share 
in  the  festivities.  Students  from  Coyoacan  and  the  Semi- 
nary were  among  the  leading  speakers.  After  the  celebra- 
tion, dinner  was  served  to  all  visitors,  and  an  offering  of 
fifteen  pesos  was  sent  to  the  Society.  Other  churches  of 
other  denominations  did  likewise.  There  are  few  churches 
in  all  of  Mexico  that  do  not  observe  this  day.  There  is  no 
other  celebration  that  has  been  generally  adopted  by  the 
Protestant  churches.  This  reveals  the  love  which  the 
people  have  for  God's  Word  and  their  desire  that  it  be 
placed  in  every  home  in  the  land. 

Institutes  for  the  Colporteurs.  Recognizing  the 
value  of  Institutes  which  are  now  being  used  so  effectively 
in  all  the  churches,  the  Bible  Society  adopted  their  use  in 
its  work.  Their  purpose  is  to  train  men  not  to  be  simply 
book-sellers  or  commercial  agents,  but  to  be  better  dis- 
pensers of  the  Word  of  God,  and  make  Bible  circulation 
more  popular  and  more  effective. 

God's  Message  for  the  Nation.  Wherever  the  Bible 
goes  it  has  a  message  for  the  heart.  All  agencies  possible 
are  used  to  bear  this  message.  Students  on  vacation  work 
are  loaded  down  with  Bibles  and  Testaments.  Pastors 
become  local  agents.  Missionaries  on  itinerating  trips 
carry  a  supply.    The  hearts  of  the  people  are  being  touched 


212  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

and  streams  of  living  water  are  flowing  afresh  from 
springs  which  have  been  stopped  up  for  centuries.  In 
touching  the  hearts  of  the  people  the  heart  of  the  nation 
is  being  touched. 

II. 

Two  Well-Known  Allies 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  Mr.  Enrique 
Sobral  Martinez,  a  prominent  lawyer  in  Mexico  City  and 
also  consulting  lawyer  for  our  Mission,  spent  some  years 
in  New  York.  While  there  he  told  some  of  his  friends,  at 
a  time  when  intervention  in  Mexico  was  the  talk  of  the 
day,  that  the  kind  of  intervention  Mexico  needed  was  the 
intervention  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
and  other  Christian  institutions.  Mr.  Sobral  is  now  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Association  in  Mexico  City,  and  is  one  of  its 
most  enthusiastic  supporters.  He  is  only  one  of  the  many 
men  of  Mexico  who  are  recognizing  the  splendid  work  that 
is  being  done  by  this  institution.  He  has  seen  the  tremend- 
ous effect  it  has  in  giving  life  to  the  new  ideas  of  democ- 
racy. He  has  seen  how  its  schools  and  training  courses 
are  going  a  long  way  toward  awakening  Mexico.  He  has 
seen  how  some  of  the  vigorous  young  Mexicans,  who  are 
fighting  their  way  into  the  new  political  life  of  the  country 
and  are  trying  to  up-root  so  many  of  the  things  which  have 
hindered  the  country's  progress,  have  been  inspired  and 
trained  in  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  He 
has  seen  that  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
stands  as  a  great  example  of  international  brotherhood  and 
Christian  unity  in  Mexico.    Because  he  has  seen  its  value 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  213 

to  the  social  and  national  life  of  Mexico,  he  and  some 
of  his  friends  take  care  of  the  budget  of  one  hundred 
thousand  pesos  annually,  government  officials  from  the 
President  down,  professional  men,  and  business  men, 
being  among  the  contributors. 

Moral  and  Religious  Work.  The  young  men  of 
Mexico  are  not  interested  in  the  religious  traditions  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  They  have  drifted  away, 
and  the  danger  is  that  they  will  drift  far  into  atheism  and 
materialism.  The  assembly  hall  of  the  Association,  in 
Mexico  City,  which  holds  some  three  hundred  people,  is 
well  filled  every  Sunday  afternoon.  The  addresses  are 
educational  and  of  a  religious  nature.  Among  the  speak- 
ers who  are  listened  to  with  greatest  attention  are  the 
pastors  of  the  evangelical  churches,  the  President  of  the 
Evangelical  Seminary  and  other  prominent  Protestants 
who  present  the  Gospel  in  clear  and  strong  language.  The 
young  men  are  beginning  to  turn  their  eyes  toward  the 
evangelical  churches,  for  they  recognize  that  the  message 
of  the  Association  is  also  the  message  of  the  Church. 
Groups  of  young  men  can  be  seen  going  from  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  building  on  Sunday  mornings 
to  the  churches,  a  thing  unthought  of  in  the  early  days  of 
the  Association  in  Mexico. 

The  Boys'  Department.  The  Association  in  its  ef- 
forts toward  civic,  religious,  and  social  betterment  of 
Mexico,  is  adopting  all  of  the  methods  which  have  proved 
so  effective  in  other  countries.  Physical  culture,  clubs 
for  business  and  professional  men,  athletic  associations, 
studies  in  practical  life — all  have  a  place  in  the  program. 
The  Boys'  Department  is  most  popular  and  very  efifective. 
The  object  is  to  co-operate  with  the  home,  school,  and 


214  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

church  in  creating  a  pure  and  wholesome  atmosphere  for 
boys.  To  carry  out  the  object,  there  has  been  evolved  in 
the  Association  an  organization  similar  to  the  Boy  Scouts, 
called  Indian  Tribes.  This  revives  and  developes  the  best 
of  the  traditions  of  their  Indian  ancestry,  investing  them 
with  a  natural  dignity,  courage,  endurance  and  forbear- 
ance. 

A  Notable  Banquet.  In  connection  with  boys'  work, 
there  is  held  each  year  a  "Father  and  Son  Week."  This 
is  held  at  the  time  that  the  country  is  celebrating  the 
birthday  of  their  great  liberator,  Don  Benito  Juarez.  The 
week  is  given  up  to  the  organization  of  exhibitions,  con- 
ferences, and  hikes,  closing  with  a  Father  and  Son  Ban- 
quet, to  which  the  son  takes  his  father.  The  first  one  of 
these  held  in  Mexico  had  as  its  honor  guest  Mr.  Albert 
J.  Pani,  Minister  of  Commerce  and  Industry  in  the  Presi- 
dent's cabinet.  The  principal  address  was  made  by  the 
head  of  the  Department  of  Education  in  the  Federal  Dis- 
trict. The  toasts  given  by  the  boys  would  have  done 
credit  to  the  brightest  high  school  boys  in  the  United 
States.  The  following  telegram  which  was  sent  the  next 
morning  by  Mr.  Pani  to  Dr.  John  R.  Mott  indicates  the 
Impression  which  the  occasion  made:  "I  was  the  guest 
last  night  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  at 
successful  father  and  son  banquet  and  congratulate  you 
on  splendid  results  of  your  noble  work  here ;  hope  that 
you  will  extend  it  more  and  more  in  my  country  and 
throughout  the  world  for  the  advancement  of  the  highest 
ideals  which  good  men  everywhere  so  earnestly  desire. 
Accept  kindest  regards  and  sincere  esteem  from  yours 
Very  sincerely,  A.  J.  Pani." 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  215 

Government  Recognition.  The  Young  Men's  Chris- 
tian Association,  wherever  started  in  Mexico,  has  won 
hearty  approval  and  support  of  the  progressive  element  of 
the  people.  From  its  beginning  in  1902  in  the  Nation's 
capital,  it  has  kept  strictly  out  of  politics,  and  the  various 
successive  government  from  Diaz  to  Obregon  have  all 
been  friendly  to  it.  The  movement  fostering  physical 
culture  has  been  taken  up  by  the  government,  and  the 
physical  directors  of  the  Association,  at  the  request  of  the 
government,  have  organized  and  are  carrying  forward 
athletic  work  and  physical  instruction  in  eight  of  the 
government  schools  of  the  city.  They  are  also  giving 
physical  instruction  in  the  city  fire  department  and  the 
police  department.  During  the  recent  visit  to  Monterrey 
of  a  party  of  business  men  from  the  United  States,  the 
State  Governor  declared  a  half  holiday  and  had  the 
school  children  of  the  city  give  an  exhibition.  Five 
thousand  of  them  whose  training  had  been  promoted  by 
the  physial  department  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  As- 
sociation in  Monterrey,  went  through  a  program  that 
would  have  been  a  credit  to  any  city.  During  the  Cen- 
tennial Celebration  in  1921  one  of  the  best  programs  was 
the  one  put  on  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association. 
The  largest  theatre  in  the  City  of  Mexico  was  furnished  by 
the  government  at  whose  invitation  they  took  part. 

Leadership  and  Extension.  Under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  Williamson  who  is  in  charge  of  the  national  work  in 
Mexico,  and  Mr.  Taylor,  General  Secretary  in  Mexico 
City,  and  Mr.  Secrest,  Associate  General  Secretary  leaders 
are  being  trained  and  the  association  is  being  extended  to 
other  cities.  Men  are  being  sent  for  training  in  the 
Springfield  and  Chicago  Association  Colleges.     Already 


216  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

this  plan  is  showing  results.  Besides  the  Association  in 
Mexico  City,  there  are  Associations  in  Tampico,  Chihua- 
hua, and  Monterrey. 

Young  Women's  Christian  Association.  It  was 
the  dream  of  Christian  workers  in  Mexico  for  many 
years  to  establish  some  where  in  the  country  a  Young 
Women's  Christian  Association.  This  dream  began  to 
approach  realization  in  1921  when  the  American  National 
Board  of  the  Young  Women's  Christian  Association  began 
correspondence  with  Miss  Purdy,  Head  of  the  Methodist 
School  for  Girls  in  Mexico,  with  a  view  to  inviting  the 
Association  to  Mexico  City.  The  dream  took  on  a  more 
definite  form  when  a  few  months  ago  Miss  Elena  Lan- 
dazuri  and  Miss  Caroline  Sewal  Smith,  were  appointed 
Secretaries  for  Mexico  by  the  World's  Committee.  The 
dream  became  a  happy  face  when  Miss  Landazuri  came 
to  Mexico  City  in  January  of  1922  and  Miss  Smith  came 
the  following  May. 

Their  Plans.  With  the  coming  of  the  new  day  in 
Mexico,  the  women  are  more  and  more  taking  an  active 
part  in  community  life.  New  forces  are  everywhere,  and 
in  all  the  land,  with  its  many  complexities  as  the  old  and 
the  new  are  meeting,  every  encouragement  should  be  given 
to  retain  what  is  best  of  the  old  and  accept  only  what  is 
best  of  the  new.  The  new  secretaries  are  studying  condi- 
tions that  confront  them  now,  so  that  they  may  touch  in 
the  largest  way  possible  the  womanhood  of  Mexico.  The 
accessibility  and  opportunities  in  the  student  world,  make 
an  especially  attractive  field  and  the  first  approach  is  to 
be  made  to  them.  The  chief  goal  of  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association  in  Mexico  as  in  all  lands  is  the 
developing  of  indigenous  leadership.     It  is  an  extremely 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  217 

fortunate  situation  that  the  work  is  begun  with  a  Mexican 
at  the  head  of  it.  She  is  but  the  advanced  Guard  of  very 
much  larger  numbers  who  will  surely  be  ready  within  a 
few  years. 

III. 

Other  Lights 

The  American  Tract  Society.  We  have  mentioned 
the  great  place  that  religious  literature  has  held  in  the 
Evangelical  Invasion  of  Mexico.  No  agency  has  been 
more  effective  in  this  great  department  than  has  the 
American  Tract  Society.  For  forty  years  a  stream  of 
splendid  literature  has  been  flowing  from  their  rooms  in 
New  York.  In  going  over  the  list  of  books  in  Spanish, 
one  is  impressed  by  the  number  that  bear  the  imprint 
of  this  venerable  society. 

The  Cause  of  Temperance.  Mexico  is  not  the  only 
part  of  the  world  where  intemperance  prevails,  but  if 
there  is  a  country  which  is  suffering  more  from  this  evil, 
it  is  in  a  desperate  condition.  The  wealthy  consume  the 
same  expensive  liquors  used  the  world  over,  while  the 
poor  destroy  their  souls  and  bodies  with  pulque,  their 
national  drink.  This  is  an  unspeakable  curse  and  is 
responsible  for  the  major  part  of  all  crime,  poverty,  and 
inefficiency  among  the  people.  Outside  of  Protestant 
circles,  such  a  thing  as  total  abstinence  is  unheard  of.  One 
fails  to  find  any  real  effort  on  the  part  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  to  curb  the  evil.  Individual  Roman 
Catholics,  beyond  a  doubt,  have  deprecated  the  vice  of 
drunkenness,  but  there  the  matter  has  ended.     There  is 


218  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

now  an  agitation  against  intemperance  which  is  almost 
entirely  due  to  the  efforts  of  the  Christian  missionaries 
and  the  national  Protestant  workers.  Several  years  ago, 
Mrs.  H.  H.  Stoddard  visited  Mexico  and  gave  illustrated 
temperance  lectures  in  many  of  the  principal  cities,  and 
organized  temperance  societies.  She  was  also  accorded  a 
hearing  in  government  schools,  and  the  press  of  the 
country  commented  favorably  on  her  efforts.  The 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union  has  had  work  in 
Mexico  for  over  twenty  years,  having  had  a  resident  mis- 
sionary for  a  part  of  the  time.  Miss  Anna  Gordon,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  was  in 
Mexico  in  the  spring  of  1922  assisting  the  local  unions 
toward  a  better  organization  for  the  enterprise.  Mexico 
belongs  to  the  International  Temperance  League  and  was 
represented  in  the  International  Gathering  in  Washington 
in  1921  by  Rev.  Epigmenio  Velasco  who  was  at  that  time 
Secretary  of  the  League  in  Mexico. 

The  Cause  of  temperance  is  growing  in  government 
circles.  Public  opinion  is  so  indifferent  to  the  question 
that  it  is  hard  to  get  laws  passed  favoring  it  or  to  enforce 
them  when  they  are  passed.  Sunday  is  the  great  day  for 
intoxication,  and  "San  Lunes,"  (St.  Monday)  is  the  day 
most  honored  by  the  laboring  men  who  are  unable  or 
disinclined  to  work  after  the  spree  of  the  day  before. 
President  Obregon  issued  an  order  recently  requiring  the 
closing  of  the  saloons  in  and  around  Mexico  City  from 
Saturday  noon  until  Monday  morning.  Such  a  protest 
was  made  by  all  classes,  especially  the  owners  of  the 
saloons,  that  it  was  necessary  to  rescind  the  order.  During 
1921,  the  Governor  of  the  State  of  Taumalipas  issued  an 
order  closing  the  saloons  from  Saturday  until  Monday.    A 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  219 

group  of  men  in  the  principal  cities  offered  him  six  hun- 
dred thousand  pesos  if  he  would  rescind  the  order,  but 
he  refused  it.  Later  on,  on  account  of  the  legal  abuses 
and  the  lack  of  public  support,  he  was  fored  to  change  the 
order,  but  entirely  against  his  will. 

The  most  noted  Temperance  activity  in  government 
circles  was  the  "dry"  campaign  in  the  State  of  Chihuahua 
in  1921.  The  question  of  Prohibition  was  submitted  to 
the  people.  The  principal  speakers  in  favor  of  it  were 
Protestant  ministers  and  laymen.  The  Evangelical  Press 
furnished  the  greater  part  of  the  literature  for  the  cam- 
paign. Thousands  of  leaflets  were  sent  out  from  the 
press  in  Mexico  City  to  the  workers  in  Chihuahua.  Toward 
the  end  of  the  campaign,  when  the  tide  was  turning 
strongly  in  favor  of  the  Prohibition,  the  opposition  had 
the  election  postponed,  otherwise,  the  victory  would  almost 
certainly  have  been  with  the  prohibition  cause.  The 
matter  is  still  in  abeyance,  and  will  be  submitted  again. 

The  Temperance  leaders  believe  that  the  best  work  is 
to  be  done  in  the  schools.  Mr.  Osuna,  the  Manager  of 
the  Union  Press,  is  doing  more  than  any  other  person  in 
Mexico  toward  educating  the  children  in  the  principles  of 
temperance.  He  has  been  appointed  by  the  Government 
to  put  into  educational  systems  of  the  various  states  a  tem- 
perance program.  This  has  already  been  done  in  three 
states.  During  the  month  of  May,  1922,  he  visited  some 
of  the  cities  in  the  interest  of  temperance.  In  Torreon 
he  made  several  addresses  to  the  schools.  The  theatre 
was  furnished  by  the  authority  of  the  city  and  he  ad- 
dressed over  three  thousand  children.  Through  the  Union 
Publishing  House,  Mr.  Osuna  has  gotten  several  hundred 
copies   of   books  on   temperance   published   in    Spain   by 


220  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

noted  Spanish  Physicians.  Mr.  de  La  Huerta,  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury  and  a  warm  personal  friend  of  Mr.  Osuna, 
has  become  very  much  interested  and  has  authorized  the 
purchase  by  the  government  from  the  Union  Publishing 
House,  of  ten  thousand  copies  of  the  book  for  distribution 
among  the  Public  School  teachers. 

The  Humane  Association.  One  cannot  explain  the 
attitude  of  the  average  Mexican  towards  lower  animals. 
He  seems  to  have  a  tender  heart,  and  yet  he  treats  his 
animals  cruelly.  This  cruelty  reaches  its  climax  in  their 
national  sport,  the  Bull  fight.  This  is  so  embedded  in  the 
national  life  that  much  education  will  be  necessary  before 
it  is  eradicated.  A  beginning  has  been  made  in  this  direc- 
tion. There  was  organized  during  the  early  part  of  1922, 
a  Mexican  Humane  Association.  The  President  of  the 
association  is  Mr.  Jose  Vasconcelos,  President  of  the 
University  of  Mexico.  The  Board  of  Directors  includes 
newspaper  men,  senators,  teachers,  lawyers  and  business 
men.  Protestants  and  Catholics  are  associated  together 
in  this  enterprise.  Mr.  Vasconcelos  said  recently,  "While 
there  are  bull  fights  in  Mexico,  there  will  be  no  civiliza- 
tion." Men  and  women  are  working  together  in  this. 
Especially  do  they  seek  the  protection  and  care  of  children 
who  are  homeless  and  the  prevention  of  cruelty  to  animals. 
The  cultivation  of  this  spirit  among  the  younger  people 
is  carried  forward  by  the  organization  of  Bands  of 
Mercy.  There  are  in  Mexico  six  hundred  children  organ- 
ized into  such  bands. 

English  Services.  When  Mr.  Moody  was  in  Mexico 
holding  special  services  a  good  many  years  ago,  he  re- 
marked that  too  many  Americans  had  left  their  religion 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Rio  Grande.     We  do  not  know 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  221 

why  it  is  so  difficult  for  religion  to  cross  the  river  which 
divides  the  two  countries,  but  in  Mexico  there  seems  to 
be  large  possibilities  for  people  to  get  away  from  God, 
to  forget  their  church  relationship,  and  to  drift.  Un- 
fortunately, many  of  the  Americans  who  have  taken  up 
permanent  residence  in  Mexico  have  accepted  the  irre- 
ligious customs  of  their  adopted  land  and  have  not  united 
their  different  elements  into  communities  for  Christ. 

However,  there  are  some  who  do  unite  into  such  com- 
munities, cultivate  their  religious  life  and  prove  to  be 
noble  examples  of  the  products  of  the  Protestant  faith. 
We  had  one  worthy  example  of  a  business  man  in  Mexico 
who  for  years  was  the  center  of  such  a  weekly  English 
service.  For  many  years,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  R.  Silliman 
lived  in  Saltillo.  Mr.  Siliman  was  an  elder  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  of  San  Antonio.  When  he  came  to 
Mexico,  he  transferred  his  church  membership  to  the 
local  Mexican  Presbyterian  Church,  and  later  Mr.  Silliman 
was  made  an  elder  in  this  church.  Besides  his  activities 
in  this  Church,  as  teacher  and  constant  attendant  on  the 
Sunday  school  and  other  services,  he  was  the  leading 
spirit  in  the  English  service.  If  he  could  secure  no  min- 
ister, he  always  held  an  edifying  and  spiritual  service, 
reading  a  sermon  from  some  noted  preacher.  Thus,  in 
his  personal  life,  in  his  home  life,  in  his  business  life, 
and  in  his  public  life,  as  consul,  he  was  a  genuine  example 
of  the  Christian  gentleman.  During  the  Great  War,  Mr. 
Silliman  was  Consul  at  Guadalajara  and  it  was  then  that 
he  rendered  some  of  his  best  service  to  his  country  and  to 
the  Cause  of  Truth.  He  spoke  out  boldly  at  a  time  when 
the  truth  was  being  traduced.  He  defended  the  principles 
for  which  we  were  giving  life  and  treasure,  at  a  time 
and  in  a  country  where  there  was  needed  a  fearless  heart 


222  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

and  a  brave  spirit.  Some  of  the  sweetest  experiences  in 
our  mission  life  have  been  the  fellowship  in  the  home  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Silliman  in  Saltillo.  All  of  us  at  some  time 
or  other  have  enjoyed  the  quietness  of  this  home,  away 
from  the  heat  and  cares  of  the  work  in  the  lower  country. 

In  Mexico  City  there  are  two  churches  for  English- 
speaking  people.  The  Episcopalians  have  their  own 
church  with  their  own  rector.  The  other  Protestants  have 
organized  a  Union  Church.  This  church  had  reached 
the  stage  of  self-support  and  had  a  large  influence  in  the 
Capital,  when  the  revolution  forced  many  foreigners  to 
leave  the  country.  It  was  compelled  again  to  receive  aid 
from  the  Foreign  Missions  Conference  of  North  xA.merica. 
Under  the  fine  leadership  of  Rev.  and  Mrs.  William  E. 
Thomas,  the  Church  is  again  nearing  the  stage  of  self- 
support.  A  warm  welcome  awaits  all  visitors  or  those 
who  take  up  permanent  residence  in  Mexico  City  at  these 
churches.  We  count  this  Union  church  with  its  varied 
activities  as  among  our  strong  allies  in  Mexico. 

IV. 

Sunbeams 

Sympathy  Needed.  Little  sympathy  need  be  wasted 
on  the  foreign  missionary.  He  voluntarily  goes  out  to  the 
greatest  task  that  has  ever  been  projected  by  God  or  man. 
Back  of  him  stands  that  Command  of  Christ ;  in  front 
of  him  a  redeemed  earth ;  around  him  the  protecting  care 
of  the  Almighty.  He  is  truly  a  privileged  person.  He 
might  be  envied,  but  never  commiserated.  But  it  is  dif- 
ferent with  the  child  of  the  missionary.  Born  in  a  foreign 
land,  his  first  few  critical  years  are  spent  in  conditions 
and  surroundings  which,  in  spite  of  the  best  that  home 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 


223 


training  can  give,  endanger  his  moral  and  spiritual 
development.  Often  forced  to  live  his  life  apart  from 
other  children,  he  misses  much  of  what  is  best  in  childhood. 

Unappointed  Missionaries.  But  the  child  of  the 
missionary  is  in  most  cases  a  messenger  of  the  Good  News. 
"Of  such  is  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven."  "Except  ye  be 
converted  and  become  like  little  children,  ye  cannot  see  the 
Kingdom  of  God."  His  very  nature  makes  him  a  type  of 
the  members  of  the  Kingdom.  The  parents,  if  they  are 
like  most  people  have  lurking  somewhere  in  iheir  bosom, 
race  prejudice  and  pride.  The  child  knows  no  distinctions 
of  race ;  he  draws  no  color  line ;  he  holds  no  racial  pre- 
judice; his  mental  attitude  tends  not  to  separate  but  to 
cement.  The  child  loves  indiscriminately.  He  loves  the 
people  around  him.  He  indentifies  himself  with  them 
without  conscious  effort.  His  heart  throbs  with  theirs. 
He  is  one  of  them,  even  though  he  prides  himself  on  being 
an  American. 


Ir'KJiSillYTtKY    OF    lAUMALlPAS 


PART  TWO 

THE  DAWN 

{Continued) 
Chapter  IX. 


"And  he  shall  be  as  the  light  of  the  morning,  when  the 
sun  riseth,  even  a  morning  without  clou  Js ;  as  the  tender 
grass  springing  up  out  of  the  earth  by  clear  shining  after 
rain." 

//  Samuel  23:  4. 

"They  shall  not  hurt  nor  destroy  in  all  my  holy  moun- 
tain :  for  the  earth  shall  be  full  of  the  knowledge  ot  tl:c 
Lord  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea." 

— Isaiah  11 :  C'. 


Chapter  Nine 

PROPHECIES 
I. 

The    Prophetic   Vision 

It  does  not  take  a  prophet  to  see  the  bright  morning 
as  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  sheds  the  brightness  of  His 
rising  and  the  glory  of  His  Light  over  Mexico. 

The  prophetic  vision  reveals  an  inspiring  conception  of 
a  redeemed  Mexico  as  the  stream  of  Christian  progress 
broadens  its  influence  on  the  people.  It  indicates  God's 
purpose  to  lead  the  Church  in  Mexico  to  a  higher  stage  of 
spiritual  training  than  has  yet  been  attained.  The  vision 
reveals  an  opportunity  just  as  vast  and  attractive  as  fifteen 
million  souls  can  make  it,  and  as  inviting  as  a  ripe  field 
to  a  harvester.  It  is  as  if  Christ  were  saying  to  the  Chris- 
tian people  of  America  that  He  has  given  to  them  the 
special  privilege  of  giving  the  Gospel  to  Mexico.  Stronger 
than  the  call  of  brotherhood  is  Christ's  last  command,  and 
in  the  carrying  out  of  this  command  there  is  great  hope 
for  this  people. 

II. 

A  Prophecy  Based  on  Progress 

The  Story  the  Figures  Tell.  We  are  fully  justified 
in  basing  a  prophecy  on  the  interesting  fact  that  there  are 
already  strongly  organized  churches  in  Mexico.    We  have 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 


227 


followed  the  course  of  our  own  work  as  it  was  begun  by 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Graybill  in  1874  and  grew  from  one  member 
to  an  organized  church,  a  presbytery,  and  a  synod.  Other 
churches  have  done  the  same,  and  if  ever  a  conference  of 
all  the  Christian  Churches  in  the  world  is  held,  the  Evan- 
gelical Churches  in  Mexico  will  have  their  standing  among 
the  others. 

In  1922  there  are  in  Mexico  399  organized  Protestant 
Churches,  with  a  combined  membership  of  22,274.  There 
are  including  these  organized  churches  703  stations  and 
outstations  where  the  Gospel  is  preached  regularly.  There 
are  149  ordained  ministers  and  624  other  evangelistic 
workers,  men  and  women  who  are  giving  their  whole 
time  to  the  work. 

There  are  306  teachers  in  Evangelical  schools,  115  are 
Day  Schools  with  an  enrollment  of  8,704  boys  and  girls 
while  27  of  them  are  schools  for  higher  education  with  an 
enrollment  of  2,135. 


Dispensary  at  Orizaba 


228  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

There  is  an  enrollment  in  the  Sunday  Schools  of  21,504 
members  and  in  Young  People's  Societies  of  7,539  mem- 
bers. The  contributions  of  all  of  these  Christians  during 
the  last  year  were  $257,766.33. 

Associated  with  the  workers  mentioned  above  were  261 
foreign  missionaries,  making  a  total  of  1,034  Evangelical 
workers  in  Mexico. 

Of  the  churches  45  are  entirely  self-supporting.  The 
National  Frontier  Presbytery  which  is  a  union  of  Tauma- 
lipas,  our  old  Presbytery  in  the  North,  and  of  Zacatecas 
with  its  3,563  church  members,  is  entirely  self-supporting. 
That  Presbytery  alone  gave  during  the  year  51,800  pesos. 

As  the  Christian  people  in  the  United  States  who  are 
supporting  the  work  in  Mexico  gather  in  the  house  of  God 
from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  to  render  thanks  to  their 
Heavenly  Father  for  His  blessings,  they  might  add  another 
note  of  thanksgiving  that  there  are  gathered  at  the  same 
time  throughout  Mexico,  in  churches,  chapels,  and  private 
homes  thousands  of  their  fellow  Christians  worshiping 
God,  many  of  them  for  the  first  time  confessing  their 
Faith  in  Him  and  for  the  first  time  sitting  down  to  partake 
of  the  Communion  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 

But  the  Evangelical  Church  in  Mexico  has  accomplished 
vastly  more  than  the  figures  show,  and  holds  a  place  in 
the  life  of  the  people  out  of  all  proportion  to  its  member- 
ship. Besides  those  who  have  been  received  into  the  mem- 
bership of  the  Protestant  churches,  there  is  a  still  larger 
number  who  might  be  called  adherents.  This  group  is 
composed  of  men  and  women  who  count  themselves 
Protestants.  Some  are  in  training  for  church  member- 
ship;  others   are   holding  ofi;   on   account  of    family   in- 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  229 

fluences ;  still  others  are  not  quite  ready  yet  to  face  the 
criticism  and  persecutions  which  would  accompany  a  public 
confession.  Yet  they  are  a  part  of  the  Evangelical  con- 
stituency and  must  be  numbered  along  with  others. 

The  Evangelical  church  has  been  in  IMexico  long  enough 
now  to  test  its  character  and  it  has  stood  the  test  well. 
In  spite  of  prejudice,  it  is  now  generally  recognized  in 
the  country  that  the  Protestants  are  more  trustworthy,  are 
freer  from  vices,  tell  the  truth,  and  are  better  laborers. 
The  stimulus  given  to  public  morals  is  having  its  effect 
and  is  having  its  influence  in  transforming  the  Hves  of  the 
people. 

In  nothing  has  the  Protestant  movement  contributed 
more  to  the  welfare  of  the  nation  than  in  the  stimulus 
given  to  education.  Its  attitude  toward  public  education, 
in  contrast  to  the  attitude  of  the  Catholic  Church,  has 
won  the  favor  of  many  of  the  Catholic  people.  The  at- 
titude of  the  Protestants  on  public  questions  has  gained 
favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  liberal  political  leaders.  No 
^Mexicans  are  more  ardent  supporters  of  the  Reform  Laws 
which  assure  liberty  of  worship  than  the  Evangelicals, 
and  none  are  more  patriotic,  nor  more  desirious  that  their 
land  shall  Ijecome  a  real  republic. 

Protestants  in  Public  Life.  It  is  a  striking  com- 
mentary on  the  work  already  done  and  speaks  well  for  the 
future,  that  so  many  evangelicals  occupy  positions  of  great 
influence  in  the  country.  For  many  years  the  graduates 
from  our  normal  schools  have  been  sought  by  the  state 
authorities.  The  Protestant  women  have  been  making, 
for  many  years,  an  effective  contribution  toward  the  uplift 
of  Mexico.  The  recent  revolution  elevated  to  places  of 
prominence  many  Protestants. 


230  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

At  the  present  time,  an  equally  large  number  are  in 
places  of  importance  in  the  Government.  Sr.  Moises 
Saenz,  a  graduate  of  Coyoacan  School  and  an  elder  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  was  for  some  years  at  the  head 
of  the  largest  preparatory  school  in  Mexico.  Recently, 
the  teachers  in  the  public  schools  in  and  around  the  city 
of  Mexico,  numbering  several  hundred,  were  allowed  to 
choose  three  candidates,  one  of  whom  was  to  be  appoint- 
ed by  the  President  as  Director  General  of  Primary  In- 
struction in  the  Federal  District.  There  were  seventeen 
candidates  and  after  three  weeks  of  discussion  and  voting, 
Sr.  Saenz  was  elected.  This  vote  showed  three  things: 
First,  the  strength  of  the  Protestant  element  among  public 
school  teachers ;  second,  the  breaking  down  of  fanaticism 
on  the  part  of  the  Catholic  teachers,  many  of  them  having 
voted  for  Sr.  Saenz ;  third,  the  growing  influence  of 
Protestantism  in  Mexico.  Sr.  Saenz  was  soon  after  this 
election  sent  by  the  government  to  Columbia  University 
and  later  to  France  for  special  study. 

In  the  present  numerical  strength  of  the  Evangelical 
church  in  Mexico  and  in  the  transforming  influence  of 
this  faith  on  society,  we  see  the  coming  of  the  Kingdom. 
The  large  number  of  self-supporting  churches  and  the 
increased  number  of  men  organized  into  laymen's  move- 
ments will  all  tend  to  usher  in  a  new  social  order. 

III. 

A  Prophecy  Based  on  Prospects 

In  the  second  generation  of  Evangelical  Christians  who 
have  come  to  maturity  and  from  childhood  have  known 
the    Holy    Scriptures   and   among   whom   are   the   ablest 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  231 

ministers   and   most   efficient   workers,   we   have   a   most 
encouraging  prospect. 

The  reverence  of  the  Mexican  is  a  quaHty  to  be  com- 
mended. Their  reverence  for  the  church  is  noticeable 
among  the  high  and  the  lowly.  Often  the  Mexican  lifts 
his  hat  or  makes  the  sign  of  the  cross  in  passing  a  church. 
He  was  devout  as  a  pagan,  he  is  devout  as  a  Catholic,  and 
he  will  be  devout  as  a  Protestant.  The  respect  of  children 
for  their  elders  is  shown  by  obedience,  kissing  the  hands, 
and  standing  uncovered  in  their  presence  and  who  can 
estimate  the  full  results  of  the  Gospel  on  a  people  such  as 
these? 

The  capacity  of  sacrifice  in  the  Mexican  character  has 
also  a  prophetic  aspect.  The  memory  of  those  men  and 
women  who  have  died  for  the  faith  is  an  endowment  from 
which  they  will  draw  to  enrich  their  own  lives  and  make 
more  sure  the  final  victory.  Again  and  again  as  we  have 
briefly  recounted  what  God  has  been  in  Mexico  during 
the  past  fifty  years,  there  have  risen  before  us  the  faces 
of  those  who  have  gone  through  sacrifice  and  suflfering 
and  a  martyr's  death  to  that  better  service  where  the  ser- 
vants of  the  King  look  upon  the  King's  face. 

Over  and  over  in  our  fancy  we  have  seen  the  face  of 
Nicanor  Gomez,  who,  in  the  spirit  of  his  Lord  said  among 
his  last  words,  "Father  forgive  them  for  they  know  not 
what  they  do."  We  think  of  the  young  Presbyterian 
minister,  Abram  Gomez  and  his  elder  Felipe  Zaragoza 
who,  while  kneeling  in  prayer  were  brutally  killed.  We 
think  of  those  twelve  men,  women,  and  children  who  were 
killed  in  the  massacre  of  Acapulco.  The  Protestant  Cause 
in  Mexico  will  never  be  the  same  because  of  these  martyrs. 
As  their  memory  lives  in  the  heart  of  the  Christian  Church 


232  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

in  Mexico,  the  grace  of  God  will  be  given  to  that  church 
to  follow  in  their  train. 

The  revolution  was  a  popular  movement  and  profoundly 
stirred  the  popular  thought.  The  intellectual  life  of  the 
people  is  awakened  and  the  people  are  taking  lessons  as 
never  before  in  the  art  of  thinking  for  themselves.  They 
are  seeing  that  the  real  cause  of  their  national  calamities 
and  age-long  struggle  for  freedom  is  their  ignorance  and 
moral  inefficiency  and  spiritual  decay.  A  recognition  of 
their  own  needs  is  the  best  guarantee  for  the  speedy  ap- 
plication of  the  remedy.  They  need  education ;  they  need 
moral  tone ;  they  need  the  life-giving  energy  which  comes 
only  from  a  new  heart.  Protestantism  with  the  open 
Bible  is  taking  just  those  things  to  them  and  is  bringing 
them  to  the  New  Day.  The  people  are  forward-looking; 
they  are  full  of  aspirations;  they  are  hopeful;  there  is 
boundless  expectation.  The  present  moral  and  spiritual 
life  of  the  young  churches  has  already  brought  a  new 
life  to  Mexico  and  as  they  draw  more  closely  to  Christ, 
and  as  His  Spirit  comes  down  on  them,  they  will  be  great 
flaming  torches  of  light. 

Evangelical  Principles  and  the  Mexican  Spirit. 
The  spirit  of  freedom  and  liberty  permeates  the  soil  of 
Mexico.  The  Mexicans  pride  themselves  on  being  one 
of  the  sister  American  Republics.  Along  with  the  others 
they  are  striving  to  establish  the  principles  of  democracy. 
Her  location  and  her  marvelous  resources  have  designed 
that  Mexico  hold  the  leadership  of  all  the  Latin-American 
countries  in  these  principles.  Events  sustain  us  in  the 
belief  that  Evangelical  Christianity  merges  admirably  with 
the  spirit  and  ideals  of  these  countries  in  their  struggles 
for  democracy.     The  Evangelical  faith  is  the  faith  for 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  233 

democracies.  It  is  the  most  successful  generator  of  a 
practical  spirit  and  a  virile  energy.  The  results  of  the 
workings  of  this  spirit  in  Mexico,  where  the  spirit  of 
freedom  so  permeates  the  soil,  has  been  fruitful,  and  can- 
not fail  to  be  more  fruitful. 

The  doctrines  of  the  Reformation  find  good  soil  in 
Mexico  and  as  these  doctrines  are  planted  in  the  upturned 
soil,  there  is  being  discovered  and  developed  the  common 
man.  He  has  hardly  more  than  been  discovered  in  Mexico. 
He  is  there  and  has  great  possibilities  and  powers.  His- 
tory helps  in  the  prophecy  as  we  recall  how  these  great 
doctrines  took  hold  of  the  down-trodden  people  of  Europe 
during  the  sixteenth  century  and  taught  them  to  look  into 
the  faces  of  nobles  and  kings  and  *iot  be  ashamed.  These 
doctrines  are  making  their  appeal  to  the  great  masses  of 
the  people  of  Mexico  and  are  taking  the  trader  at  his 
counter  and  the  digger  in  the  field,  the  shepherd  with  his 
flocks,  the  teacher  with  her  pupils,  the  doctor  with  his 
patients  and  are  raising  them  to  the  dignity  of  the  sons 
of  God.  In  these  doctrines  they  are  learning  the  principles 
of  popular  government  and  of  true  democracy,  and  when 
these  become  the  heritage  of  all  there  will  be  a  new 
Mexico. 

IV. 

A  Prophecy  Based  on  Promises 

All  Comprehensive.  If  we  had  mentioned  these 
precious  promises  at  first,  all  the  rest  might  have  been 
left  unsaid.  Mexico  is  included  in  that  promise  which 
God  makes  of  a  redeemed  and  purified  world.    Far  above 


234  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

the  bright  prospect  which  the  present  numerical  strength 
of  the  Protestant  church  in  Mexico  holds  out,  more  full  of 
prophetic  vision  than  the  splendid  qualities  of  the  Mexican 
people,  more  promising  than  changing  conditions  which 
make  the  Evangelical  appeal  of  special  force  is  God's 
unfailing  promise.  In  comparison  with  the  promises  of 
God,  these  other  things  are  of  little  value.  God  is  with 
the  Missionary  enterprise  in  Mexico.  Not  only  is  this 
true  in  the  sense  that  He  goes  with  the  people  who  go  with 
the  Gospel,  but  also  in  a  greater  sense  God  is  at  work  in 
Mexico  and  is  working  out  His  perfect  and  irresistible 
will.  It  is  hard  for  us  at  times  to  put  things  together 
and  make  this  clear  to  our  minds.  It  is  hard  for  us  to 
understand  why  He  allowed  a  Catholic  faith  of  the  type 
of  the  sixteenth  century  to  be  forced  on  Mexico.  We  do 
not  understand  why  He  has  allowed  Mexico  to  pass 
through  long  weary  years  of  political  strife  which  have 
added  untold  suffering  to  the  people.  We  do  not  under- 
stand why  He  has  allowed  the  persecutions  against  His 
servants  until  more  than  eighty  have  been  called  upon  to 
give  up  their  lives.  We  do  not  understand  these  things. 
But  back  of  all  of  them  the  living  God  is  ordering  his 
affairs  and  the  missionary  enterprise  is  more  than  anything 
else  in  His  plan.  All  other  events  lead  up  to  this,  and 
in  this  enterprise  is  the  realization  of  Christ's  greatest  and 
last  thoughts.  God  the  Father  is  in  the  enterprise.  It 
cannot  but  succeed. 

The  Promise  is  for  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  evan- 
gelization of  Mexico  is  an  enterprise  which  is  being  carried 
out  in  an  atmosphere  created  by  the  Presence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  "When  He  the  Spirit  of  Truth  will  come  He  will 
guide  you  into  all  truth,"  said  Jesus.     Beyond  a  doubt 


Sunrise  in  Acfec  Land  235 

the  Christians  in  Mexico  have  not  yet  begun  to  test  the 
power  of  that  Divine  Spirit  Christ  offers  to  give  them. 

May  it  not  be  that  the  extent  to  which  this  power  of  the 
Spirit  has  been  tested  is  to  be  interpreted  as  an  earnest  of 
new  revelation  to  them  of  the  spiritual  resources  of 
prayer?  "If  ye  shall  ask  anything  in  my  name,"  said 
Christ,  "I  will  do  it."  All  things  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask 
in  prayer,  believing,  ye  shall  receive."  "If  ye  have  faith — 
if  ye  shall  say  to  this  mountain  be  thou  removed — it  shall 
be  done."  When  God  outlined  the  development  of  the 
work  in  Mexico,  as  a  part  of  His  great  plan,  He  arranged 
the  place  for  the  Spirit  to  create  an  atmosphere  of  prayer, 
and  with  the  development  of  this  plan,  this  prayer  force 
will  become  more  and  more  a  passion,  an  entreaty,  an 
utter  longing  and  an  engulfing  of  the  will  of  His  people 
into  a  great  achievement  in  the  will  of  God.  The  Spirit 
of  God  is  in  the  enterprise  and  where  the  Spirit  of  God 
is  there  is  victory. 

Christ's  Promise  of  His  Personal  Presence.  God 
the  Father,  in  carrying  out  His  plan  for  the  ages,  sent 
forth  His  Son  who  was  in  His  Bosom  to  declare  to  the 
world  God  Himself.  The  highest  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit 
in  His  mystical  dealings  with  lives  is  His  own  secret  way 
of  planting  Christ  in  them  and  giving  Him  the  pre-eminent 
and  sovereign  place  in  them.  "He  shall  not  speak  of 
himself,"  said  Christ,  he  shall  glorify  me,  for  he  shall 
take  of  mine,  and  shall  declare  it  unto  you." 

If  we  should  have  any  doubt  about  the  coming  of  the 
Day  in  Mexico  the  thought  of  Him  would  banish  it  for- 
ever. If  the  enterprise  is  a  mistake  it  is  His  mistake. 
If  it  fails  it  will  be  His  failure.  If  the  laying  down  of 
life  in  Mexico  is  needless  waste  let  the  reproach  rest  on 


236  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

Him  who  laid  down  His  own  priceless  life.  The  poets  of 
old  sang  of  the  spiritual  conquest  of  the  world  by  Him. 
Prophesies  throb  with  hope  when  at  the  brightness  of  His 
rising  the  Gentiles  should  come  to  the  light.  "Unto  you 
that  fear  my  name  shall  the  Sun  of  righteousness  rise  with 
healing  in  his  wings."  H  that  is  not  enough,  it  should  be 
enough  for  us  to  recall  words  which  come  to  us  from  his 
own  lips :  "I  am  the  light  of  the  world ;"  "I  am  the 
good  shepherd;"  "I  am  the  way  the  truth  and  the  life;  no 
man  cometh  to  the  Father  but  by  me ;"  "All  authority  hath 
been  given  unto  me  in  Heaven  and  in  earth.  Go  ye  there- 
fore and  make  disciples  of  all  nations.  Lo  I  am  with  you 
alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  World." 

He  who  gave  this  command  gave  the  promise  of  His 
eternal  presence,  and  in  the  confidence  produced  by  that 
Presence  and  in  the  power  which  He  will  supply  in  His 
church,  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  will  increase  in  His 
Brightness  and  His  glorious  rising  more  and  more  over 
that  sunny  land  ushering  it  into  that  Perfect  Day. 

"Oh,  long  expected  day,  begin ! 
Dawn  on  these  realms  of  woe  and  sin ! 
Break,  morn  of  God,  upon  our  eyes ; 
And  let  the  world's  true  Sun  arise." 


APPENDIX 


Sunrise  in  A:;tec  Land  239 

I. 

OUR  MISSIONARIES  TO  MEXICO 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  men  and  women  who  have 
represented  our  Church  in  Mexico.  The  dates  indicate  the 
period  of  service  (the  year  of  entering  service  and  of 
retirement).     In  case  of  death  in  service  in  Mexico,  an 

asterisk  is  placed  after  the  second  date. 

Graybill,   Anthony   Thomas,    D.    D Va.  1874-1905* 

Graybill,  Mrs.  A.  T.,  nee  Miss  Douglas  Taylor... Va.  1874-1875* 

Hall,  Rev.  John  G Ark.  1877-1899 

Hall,  Mrs.  J.  G..  nee  Miss  Virginia  Wilson Va.  1877-1899 

Graybill,  Mrs.  A.  T.,  nee  Miss  Hattie  Lough- 
ridge Tex.  1879-1889* 

Graybill,  Rev.  J.  Walton,  M.  D Va.  1881-1883 

Graybill,  Mrs.  J.  W.,  nee  Miss  Luella  Crocket. . .  .Ky.  1881-1883 

Houstin,    Miss   Janet    Va.  1881-1889 

Dysart,  Miss  Anne  E Mo.  1882- 

Lep,  Miss  Elsie  V N.  C.  1890- 

Bedinger,  Miss   Sara  E Ky.  1891-1911 

Gunn,  Miss  Minnie   Va.  1892-1899 

Cummins,  Miss  Ella   Tenn.  1894-1897 

Houston,    Miss    Edith    McC.    (Transferred    to 

Camajuanita,  Cuba)    Va.  1895-1899 

Graybill,  Mrs.  A.  T.,  nee  Miss  Annie  Ottaway.  .N.  Y.  1895-1912* 

Shelby,  Rev.  Jas.  O Tcnn.  1902- 

Shelby,  Mrs.  J.  O.,  nee  Miss  Mary  Belle  Sim- 
mons  Va.  1906- 

Ross,  Rev.   Hervey  L Ark.  1906- 

Ross,  Rev.  Wm.  A Ark.  1907- 

Ross,  Mrs.  W.  A.,  nee  Miss  Lorena  Barry Miss.  1907- 

McClelland,  Miss  Alice  J Tex.  1909- 


240  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 

Our  Missionaries  to  Mexico 

{Continued) 

Morrow,  Prof.  Ruf us  C N.  C.  1909- 

Morrow,  Mrs.  R.  C,  nee  Miss  Medora  Askew Ga.  1909- 

Ross,  Mrs.  H.  L.,  nee  Miss  Elizabeth  McRae Ark.  1911- 

Coppedge,  Llewellyn  J.,  M.  D N.  C.  1921- 

Coppedge,  Mrs.  L.  J.,  nee  Miss  Coralie  Lobdell.  .Miss.  1921- 

Wray,  Mr.  Jas.  H Iowa  1921- 

Wray,  Mrs.  J.  H.,  nee  Miss  Edith  Scott Iowa  1921- 

Lewis,  Rev.  Zack  E Va.  1921- 

Lewis,  Mrs.  Z.  E.,  nee  Miss  Aurie  Steptoe Va.  1921- 

Williamson,   Rev.   Orin   C N.  C.  1921- 

Williamson,  Mrs.  O.  C,  nee  Miss  Lois  Faires, 

R.  N N.  C.  1921- 

Farrior,  Rev.  Norman  P N.  C.  1921- 

Farrior,  Mrs.  N.  P.,  nee  Miss  Hazel  Black N.  C.  1921- 

Murray,  Rev.  Edward  C.  Jr N.  C.  1921- 

Beaty,   Miss   Lettie N.  C.  1921- 

Southerland,  Miss  Pattye  F.,  R.  N N.  C.  1921- 

II. 

CHILDREN  OF  OUR  MISSIONARIES 
IN  MEXICO 

Name  Date  of  birth 

Margaret  V.  Shelby  April  6,  1908 

Katherine  Morrow  January  23,  1911 

Coralie  Beauvais  Coppedge   June  8,  1913 

Ruf  us  Morrow December  8,  1913 

Hervcy  Ross    - May  10,  1914 

May  Wilson  Ross  May  19,  1916 

Pauline  Morrow   December  18,  1916 

Isabel  Ross    November  16,  1917 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  241 

Anthony  Oliver  Shelby    August  25,  1918 

Mary  Lee  Lewis   May  4,  1919 

Caroline  E.  Wray   November  20,  1920 

Richard  Lobdell  Coppedge April  20,  1922 

Zack  Edward  Lewis,  Jr May  13,  1922 

Daniel  Arthur  Wray  June  4,  1922 

Antionette  Black  Farrior   July  8,  1922 

Jean  McRae  Ross   July  14,  1922 

Donald  Clark  Williamson   September  14,  1922 


III. 

EVANGELICAL  CHURCHES,  SOCIETIES  and 
MISSIONS  WORKING  IN  MEXICO 

American  Bible  Society. 
American  Friends'  Mission. 
Associate  Reform  Presbyterian  Mission. 
Baptist  Churches  in  Mexico. 
Congregational  Church. 
Disciples  Mission. 
Episcopal  Church. 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 
Mexican  Society  of  Christian   Missions    (In- 
dependent). 
National  Frontier  Presbytery. 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S.   (Southern). 
Presbyterian  Church  in  the  U.  S.  A.  (Northern). 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association, 
Young  Women's  Christian  Association. 


242  Sunrise  in  ^Izlcc  Land 

IV. 

GENERAL  EVANGELISTIC,  EDUCATIONAL, 
and  MEDICAL  WORK  IN  MEXICO 

Total  number  of  Foreign  Missionaries 261 

Men  :  Ordained  Missionaries 59 

Men:  Unordained  Missionaries  (Not  physicians  or  nurses)  ..        19 

Physicians  :   Men  and   Women 14 

Women :  Married   (not  physicians  or  nurses) 66 

Women  :  Unmarried  (not  physicians  or  nurses) 93 

Number    of    nurses 10 

Total  National  Stafif 77Z 

Men :     Ordained 149 

Men  :   Unordained,  teachers,  preachers  and  other  workers .  . .      263 

Women  :    Bible  women,  and  other  evangelistic  workers 28 

Women :     Teachers 306 

Women  :     Nurses 27 

Stations  with  resident  foreign  missionary 42 

All  other  places  where  regular  work  is  carried  on 661 

Organized    Churches 399 

Full    Communicants 22,274 

Christian  Adherents  :   Baptized  and  unbaptized ;  all  ages 54,030 

Number  of  Sunday  Schools 388 

Sunday  School  membership,  officers,  teachers  and  pupils 21,547 

Number  of  Young  People's  Societies 254 

Membership  of  Young  People's  Societies 7,539 

Day  Schools  (elementary) 115 

Enrollment  of  Day  Schools 8,704 

Schools  of  Higher  Learning 27 

Enrollment  of  schools  of  Higher  Learning 2,135 

Number  of  Churches  entirely  self-supporting 45 

Total  contributions  for  church  work  during  the  year. . .  .$257,766.33 

Total  contribution  for  education  during  the  year 377,397.55 

Total  contribution  for  Medical  Work  during  year 63,837.67 

Patients   treated    in   hospitals    and    dispensaries   during 
the  year    9,507.00 


Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land  243 

V. 
INTERESTING    BOOKS    ON    MEXICO 

Near  Side  of  the  Mexican  Question 
By  Jay  Stowei.l— Price  $1.50 

Our  Mexican  Cousin 
By  E.  C.  Butler— Price  $1.00 

Mexican  Twins 
By  Miss  Perkins — Price  $1.25 

Life  in  Mexico 
By  Mai).\me  Cai.derox  de  la  Barca — Price  80c 

Mexico  Today 
By  George  B.  Winston — Price  75c 

Thirty  Years  With  the  Mexicans 

By  Alden  Buell  Case — Price  $1.75 

Mexico  Coming  Into  Light 

By  John    Wesley   Butler,   D.    D.— Price  $1.50 

Mexico  Today  and  Tomorrow 

By  E.  D.  Trowbridge— Price  $2.00 

Carmencita :  A  Story  of  Mexico 

By  E.  V.  Lee— Price  $1.00 

Intervention  in  Mexico 
By  Samuel  Guy  Inmax — Price  $1.50 

The  People  of  Mexico 

By  Wallace  Thompsox — Price  $2.50 

Historic  Churches  in  Mexico 

By  Sara  Butler— Price  $2.00 

Viva  Mexico 

By   Charles   Macomb   Flaxdrau — Price  $2.00 

The  Fair  God 
By  Lew  Wallace— Price  $2.50 

The  Conquest  of  Mexico 

By  Prescott — Price,  2  vol.,  $1.50  each 

Order  from 

Presbyterian   Committee  of   Publication 

RICHMOND,  VA.  TEXARKANA,  TEXAS 


244  Sunrise  in  Aztec  Land 


BOOKS  ON  LATIN  AMERICA  IN  GENERAL 


Panama  Congress  1916.  (Three  Volnmns). 

Renaissant  Latin  America 

By  Haulan  p.  Beach 

The  Living  Christ  for  Latin  America 
By  J.  H.  McLean 

The  Problems  of  Pan-Americanism 
By  Samuel  Guy  Inman 

Latin  America 
By  Hubert  W.  Brown 


Date  Due 

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